“A friend in Hockey, a friend in life, a friend in coaching and definitely a friend to many. Those that Ann played Hockey and Cricket with, will always remember her without a doubt.”

Canterbury Hockey’s thoughts and well wishes are with the friends and family of Ann McKenna (nee Colville) who passed away last Friday.

Ann was a double international, playing both Hockey and Cricket, and coaching, at the highest level in both sports.

In hockey in the 1960s and 1970s Ann played club hockey for University and Harewood, and was a Canterbury A Rep and Coach of club teams and also coached the Canterbury A Women.

Ann represented NZ at two IFWHA World Tournaments, in 1967 in Cologne and in 1971 in Auckland.

Ann first discovered performance coaching while she and her family were living in Canada. After she had returned to NZ, she became the Assistant Coach for the Black Sticks Women's team from 1988-1992, during this time the Black Sticks competed at the IFH World Cup in Sydney, the 1991 FIH Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland, culminating in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona.

In the words of Pat Barwick “Ann was an amazing sports woman with a professional and positive approach at all times. To have known her well and been able to coach with her was an honour and a privilege.

Ann developed and created a strong culture, and had a way of getting the best ...in fact, drew out the best effort and performance from her players as a Captain and as a Coach... players wanted to play and win for her! Her technical and tactical awareness, and knowledge was valuable to all she worked with, and she just seemed to know what they needed, to grow and be better. She was a natural leader who was happy leading from beside you, and most responded well to this approach. She was humble, with a strong work ethic and always a team person, wanting everyone to have some level of success. She could tell it to you kindly but straight if necessary, but also had a fun way of getting many key messages across... a delightful sense of humour.

I don't believe that there are many that have touched so many and achieved so much as Ann did within her two favourite sports. There are so many of us that can only say "thank you" now.

Rest in Peace Annie.”

A funeral service for Ann will be held at the Oaklands Chapel, corner of Halswell Junction and Wigram Roads, Halswell, Christchurch, on Saturday, February 1, at 2:00pm.