Hockey trips worth place

Press, 1 April 1989, Page 88

Hockey trips worth place

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Travelling thousands of kilometres a year between Ashburton and Christchurch has paid the ultimate dividend for Kieran O’Grady. Last evening she was named in the New Zealand women’s hockey team to visit Australia in June for five matches against the Olympic gold medallists. For the last four seasons O’Grady has travelled from Ashburton to Christchurch and return several times a week for club and representative training and matches.

For a time she was accompanied by her sister, Leanne McFadden, who played in the same Burnside club team and for Canterbury. Last year McFadden decided not to play in Christchurch but O’Grady has continued to make the numerous journeys.

In February she was included in the New Zealand squad for a week long training camp which ended at Porritt Park yesterday. A mid-field player, O’Grady earned her place with determined performances throughout the week.

There was double cause for celebration in Ashburton last evening. Another player who learned her hockey in the town, but moved to Christchurch three years ago, Sharon Amos, was chosen as a goalkeeper. Like O’Grady, she is a new cap.

There are three other new caps in the squad of 16 — Lisa Horrell (Otago) and Chris Madill and Margaret Edge (Auckland). Canterbury dominates the team with nine players, Auckland has five and the only other province represented, Otago, has two.

Mary Clinton from Canterbury, is the captain and Chris Arthur, also from Canterbury, is the vicecaptain.

The team is: Clinton, Arthur, Amos, Sue Duggan, Maree Flannery, Elaine Jensen, O’Grady, Cindy Reriti, Kate Trolove (Canterbury); Tina Bell, Korrell (Otago); Leanne Birkenhead, Edge, Sue Fumage, Madill, Lois Simpson.