It’s not often life grants a second chance at a childhood dream but for Old Trident Ash Garratt (Class of 1996), that chance came dressed in red and white, with a stick in hand, and a gold medal around his neck.

Nearly 30 years after donning the England shirt as a schoolboy hockey international, Ash returned to the European Championships, this time as part of the England Masters Over 45s squad. The result? A resounding victory and a European gold medal; his first in senior international competition.

Ash reflects: “Remarkably, having only ever won silver as a schoolboy or junior, we managed to win gold in Valencia!”

It was a particularly meaningful full-circle moment. The last time Ash played in a European Championship was in his Upper Sixth year, in Paris in 1996, representing England U18s. “I was lucky enough to captain the team and score a penalty flick on the way to winning a bronze!” he recalls. From that proud moment in Paris to the top of the podium in Valencia, the journey has been decades in the making.

“It was a truly special time for hockey at Trent”

Ash’s hockey story began right here at Trent, where between 1991 and 1996 he established himself as a standout player. During his time in Blake House, Ash was part of an extraordinary cohort of players, four of whom represented England at U15, U16, U18, and U21 level while still at school. He reflects: “Ady Lock, Keith Reesby, Richard Finch and myself trained, competed, and drove each other on. The aspiration, solidarity, and collective ambition we shared meant we stretched our capabilities for and because of each other.”

That spirit led to remarkable success, including a national U16 Schools Championship in 1992 and, in 1995, Gold at the Junior Olympic Games representing Team GB, an experience Ash describes as a “total game changer” at just 17 years old.

Continuing into what Ash fondly remembers as the “glory days” at Beeston Hockey Club, between 1996 and 1999, he played alongside many of his old school teammates, and Stephen Wood, now Beeston Men’s 1st XI Head Coach and, having joined Trent College as a Games teacher in 2008 is now also Head of Lower School.  Together they were part of the Beeston squad that won the league two years in a row during a golden period for the club. “To keep playing at such a high level straight after school, and with the same guys I’d grown up with on the pitch, it was incredible” he says. “The camaraderie never left us.”

That golden run at Beeston bridged school and adult life, and although Ash later stepped away from elite hockey to build a successful career in business and performance coaching, his passion for the game never faded. Fast-forward to present day, and Ash was selected for the England Masters Over 45s squad. “It was incredibly humbling” he says. “The gravity of wearing the England shirt hits differently when you’re older. It carried a deeper significance this time. I felt genuinely fortunate just to be there.”
 
The European Masters Championships, held in Valencia, are a celebration of longevity in sport and the friendships that endure. England’s Masters squad swept through the tournament, topping their group with wins over Wales, Scotland, France and the Invitational Alliance Team. A 2–0 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-final set up a dramatic final against Ireland, which England won 2–1. Across the competition, they scored 34 goals and conceded just two.

The final whistle brought a wave of emotion. “Just a dream come true” Ash says.

“Total disbelief. The National Anthem was a fairy tale moment.”

What would his 18-year-old self have said if told this moment would come? “He’d have said, ‘What took you so long?!’ And told me not to get a proper job and to keep pushing for full international honours. But I hope he’d be proud that I’ve stayed fit enough to play at this level nearly three decades later. He’d also probably wonder what happened to my hairline, and marvel at how much grey there is now!”

Beyond the glory, Ash says the true highlight has been the lifelong friendships formed through sport. “All the guys. My closest friends from school [who also include Ian Pollock and Tom Hancock] and hockey are still my closest friends today. One of my business partners was with me in Blake.”

"We’ve stayed close for 30 years.  It’s crazy and wonderful"

He’s also quick to thank the staff who shaped his journey: Adam Benstead “Benny, a lifelong legend”, the ever-present and hugely influential Doc Woods, Peter Shuttleworth, Beeston Hockey and Blake Housemaster who was “incredibly supportive understood the juggle of elite sport”, and Tony Rolt, then Director of Sport, “incredibly inspiring” whose wisdom and motivation made a lasting impact.

For current students dreaming of the international stage, Ash’s message is simple and empowering: “It’s absolutely attainable. You’ve got an incredible set-up at Trent College, and you’re near Nottingham and Beeston Hockey Club, one of the premier hockey locations in the country.” His advice is rooted in experience:

“Believe. Master the basics. Practise relentlessly.
And most of all, love the game. Properly love it."

"I used to head out to the astros with a stick and a ball most evenings. That was one of the best things about boarding, having the facilities right there.”

Running a successful performance agency Ash works with schools and organisations on education and high performance. He’s planning to return to Trent, not as a player this time, but as a mentor, to share the insights he’s gained from a life in sport and business.

After almost three decades, to be back on the international stage, winning gold for his country, was not just a personal achievement, it was a reminder that with passion, perseverance and a love for the game, there’s always more to play for.

“It was an incredible experience. Age is just a number.”