HomeImagesTeam Photo: Manawatu Deaf Society, New Zealand Games for the Deaf Inter-Club Competitions at Porirua, October 1995

Team Photo: Manawatu Deaf Society, New Zealand Games for the Deaf Inter-Club Competitions at Porirua, October 1995

MANAWATU DEAF SOCIETY (INC.). NEW ZEALAND GAMES FOR THE DEAF INTER-CLUB COMPETITIONS AT PORIRUA, OCTOBER 1995. WINNER: AOTEAROA TURI SHIELD. Lorraine Nilsson Trophy Ladies Highest Points: S. Hanson (T.P.B.). Johnston Cup Best Player: P. Batten (B/B). Otago Deaf Society Cup Women’s Basketball: Manawatu. Gordon Cup Outstanding Women Basketball Player: R. Beattie. Gordon Cup Improved Men’s Basketball Player: K.Carroll. J. C. Bailey Cup Sportsperson of the Year: K.Quirke. Smithers Cup Netball: Manawatu. Hazelwood Cup Outstanding Player: A. Scott (N). MDNC Improved Player: R. Bradfield (N). Not in the photo: Lorraine Nilsson Trophy Men’s Highest Points: J. Page (T.P.B.). Katu Cup Outstanding Coach of Basketball Tournament: P. Batten.

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  • Deaf Sports
NZSL story – Taonga source: Susie Ovens

Switching Sides: Otago Cup Glory with Manawatu

Susie Ovens, an Aucklander, cheekily recalls playing for the Manawatu Deaf Women’s Basketball Team at the 1995 New Zealand Deaf Games in Porirua. With not enough players for an Auckland team, she and Nadia Baradi decided to jump ship and join Manawatu instead. They were also keen to form a New Zealand Deaf women’s team for the 1997 World Deaf Games in Copenhagen – but financial challenges meant it never came together. Still, Porirua was a triumph. The Manawatu team dominated, setting a record by thrashing Wellington 124–20, and went on to claim the Otago Cup for the Games.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Susie Ovens

Susie on the Rise of Deaf Women’s Basketball

Susie recalls becoming intrigued while watching the first women’s basketball games at the 1981 World Deaf Games in Köln. Inspired, she teamed up with Rae Oxspring to form an Auckland women’s team in time for the Labour Weekend Sports Convention. Back then, during Rae’s time, it was referred to as ‘netball’. The first competition for the newly created Otago Cup was held in Dunedin, and Auckland won that inaugural trophy. It marked the beginning of a marvellous era – with seven women’s teams competing! Susie fondly remembers one tense match against Christchurch, where an Auckland player accidentally wore a hearing aid. Auckland won the match – and only then did Christchurch raise a protest. Susie laughs, saying it was a bit cheeky: “Why wait until after losing to complain?”
Taonga source:
Manawatu Deaf Society
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, 1995-P005-MDS
Note:
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