A versatile and athletic player who was part of the famous Haigh hockey family – including her brother Robert Haigh – she played every match at the 1953 IFWHA tournament first at left inner, then right inner, and finally at left wing.
In what surely was the highest point of Patricia Haigh’s hockey career, she was named in the World XI following the 1953 IFWHA tournament – now called the World Cup.
A versatile and athletic player who was part of the famous Haigh hockey family – including her brother Robert Haigh – she played every match at that tournament first at left inner, then right inner, and finally at left wing.
The average age of the English team at the time was 40, nevertheless this was the first time Australia had ever beaten England, 50 years or so after English arrivals introduced the game here.
Quietly spoken, Pat was a composed and fair player, and teammates saw her as an inspiration.
Her first appearance for SA was in 1950 and then after only one national championship, she was selected in All-Australian teams from 1951-54.
She was also selected in the All-Australian Blue Ribbon (Non-Touring) teams for 1951, 1952, and in 1954.
Back home, family duties took over which limited women’s careers at the time.
Later Pat came back to hockey as the coach/manager of the first Aroha junior team and a selector for the State Schoolgirl’s Team and remained as a selector for many years.
She was a State Representative: 1950–1954 and Australian Representative: 1951 – 1954.
