'Tech' Hockey team members reunited

MEMBERS of a Ballymena Technical College double winning hockey squad were reunited recently.

When Jacqueline Bannon nee Smith returned home from Australia for a visit some of the ex-members got in contact viah facebook and a small reunion was quickly organised.

The first time these girls played as a team was at Ballymena Intermediate under the guidance of of teacher Mrs Denise Harper.

The team then went on to form the formidable Technical College junior team pictured above right.

Back row l-r Susan McQuiston, Helen Anderson, Christine Eagleson, Ann Armstrong, Heather Hughes, Mina McCartney, Margaret Gray, Caroline Moore. Front l-r Jacqueline Smith, Gail Lowry, Helen Nelson, Patricia Sloan and Heather Dodds.

On a Tuesday 48 years ago the girls played the Northern Ireland Technical Schools’ Junior Cup Final against Lurgan College.

The junior hockey team went to town on their opponents with inside-left Mina McCartney scoring a hat-trick. Lurgan replied back with a goal before Susan McQuiston made it four.

The very next day nine of the junior team represented the Technical College in the Senior final where they played the much fancied Enniskillen College.

Ballymena were ahead at the interval by a solitary goal from outside right Helen Nelson. In the second half Ballymena scored four more goals. Team captain Jayne Gaston and Susan McQuiston scored a brace of goals each with the final score 5-0 to the Ballymena girls. Coach of the double winning teams was Mrs Eileen Coulter.

A unique achievement for the college to be double winners but especially unique for the nine girls who played in both finals 48 years ago.

Six of the nine met up for a breakfast fry up where they chatted about the years gone by and what each other are now doing. One of the ladies Jacqueline Smith better known to the girls as Smithy has just finished playing masters hockey in Australia. This was the first time the ladies have been together since college.