‘A dream come true' as Tullamore hockey duo prepare for World Cup

By Rebekah O’Reilly

Tullamore natives Lorna Bagnall and Suzanne Davis (née Colton) have been selected to play for Ireland in the upcoming over-50s Women’s Masters Hockey World Cup.

The women are flying out to New Zealand on November 2, with the tournament taking place from November 7 to 16.

Both Lorna and Suzanne began their hockey journeys at school in Charleville, and later honed their skills with Tullamore Hockey Club.

Over the years, their dedication and talent have seen them rise to the top of their game, earning a spot on the national team for this prestigious international tournament.

Suzanne said that they have been training for months for the tournament. The 51-year old said: “There’s 18 on the squad – two keepers and 16 outfield. For a tournament of this size we need the two keepers in case one gets injured.

“We’ve been training every Sunday for three hours. We usually train near Dublin because we have members coming from all over the country.”

Speaking about how they feel about representing their country, they summed it up in one word - “honoured”.

Suzanne said: “I’m really excited, this is my first time going to the Masters. I started playing for Leinster when I was 40 or 41, and I’ve tried out every year for the Ireland team.

“I’ve had a number of disappointments, but now to play for Ireland, there’s huge excitement and honour. It’s a dream come true.”

Lorna (54) has a history with the Masters Hockey World Cup, having travelled to Cape Town previously to compete.

“I’ve been involved in the Masters for 10 years, and I’ve had the opportunity to travel to a number of different places to compete.

“I’ve been lucky. I’m very privileged, and I’m certainly proud,” she said. The pair hope that by competing on the world stage, they can highlight the importance of women’s sport, and encourage younger women to keep playing the sport they love.

“At any age, if you stay fit, and you have an interest to keep pursuing it, you can succeed,” Suzanne said. “You think in your 20s ‘Will I ever play for my country’ – and we’re doing it in our 50s.

“We want to encourage other women. We want to shine a light and say ‘this is possible’. There are opportunities.”

Lorna added: “Women’s sport has taken a back seat for too long. It’s about raising the profile of the sport.”

One big obstacle for the hockey players is funding their trip to the tournament. Suzanne explained that the Masters Hockey World Cup is a completely self funded tournament.

“The big challenge is it’s self funded - there’s no support from sports bodies. Everybody is tasked with finding the money - and the players pay for the coach and the manager,” she said.

The Tullamore natives are asking for support from local businesses, with sponsorship opportunities in the form of a training t-shirt, and a tournament t-shirt which will feature the logos of their sponsors.

For those interested in sponsoring or supporting their journey, please get in touch with Lorna Bagnall on 087 8134344, or with Suzanne Davis by email at: suzannecolton@hotmail.com