History

Pegasus Ladies Hockey Club was founded March 13th, 1961 at Shandon, Malone Road, Belfast and comprised thirteen members from the Ulster College of Physical Education (Jordanstown) and Stranmillis College. It was the dream of UCPE lecturer Mrs Hilary O'Neill who, in connection with Ms Anna Richmond of UCPE and Ms Catherine McTavish of Stranmillis College, formed a hockey team comprised of ex-students of the two teaching facilities and the name Pegasus was 'born'.

Physical

Education

Girls

And

Students of the

Ulster College and

Stranmillis

In 1978 Pegasus was made an open club and began attracting talented players from all over the province. Over the years Pegasus has become one of the most succesful and highly respected hockey clubs in Ireland and has an impressive list of honours.

Players Past and Present

Pegasus has always been a hotbed of talent and a breeding ground for regional and international representatives and the current crop of players in the First XI are no exception. View the player profiles for individual honours.

As far back as 1966 a certain Sandra Wylie (later Millar) was selected as Pegasus' first Irish international and went on to captain the national side in 1972. In 1976 Jenny Given (later Redpath) and Hilary Brady were members of the Triple Crown winning Irish team. 1980 saw Jenny elected vice-captain of the Great British Squad for the Moscow Olympic games. The same year saw a 16 year-old Maggie Cleghorn join Jenny in the GB squad after a heroic winning goal for Ireland against England at Wembley.

Maggie Cleghorn went on to captain both the Irish and Ulster squads in the 1982-83 season and was joined on the Irish team by Eilish Macken, who subsequently went on to captain Ireland in the 1983-84 season. Violet McBride, who continues to play for the Veterans, was a member of the GB squad of the Eighties while Hilda Beamish played on the Senior Irish, Irish U21, U18 and Munster teams.

During the Eighties Glynis Taylor (later a highly successful Pegasus Coach) and Noelle Brannigan won full Irish caps. The 1987-88 season saw the clubs' excellent youth policy bear fruit as Pegasus had representatives on every Ulster squad from Under 16 through to Senior level; outdoor and indoor! Pegasus also provided four provincial captains: Laura Brown (U16), Julie Brown (U18), Alma Hanley (U21), and Eilish Macken (Ulster and Ireland indoor). Claire Samways and Lindsay Haslett became U18 Schoolgirl Internationals while Laura Brown recieved the same honour at U16 level.

A 17 year-old Claire McMahon won her first Irish Senior cap in 1993 while Arlene Thompson captained Ireland U21 and Ulster U21.

Coaches, Management and Umpires.

Pegasus must give a lot of credit of their success to a string of excellent coaching and management individuals who have continued to achieve honours throughout the clubs history and at provincial and international level.

Catherine McTavish coached the Ulster squad in 1976, went on to be elected president of of the Irish and Ulster Womans Hockey Unions (as well as being the first woman to umpire Centre Court tennis at Wimbledon).

In the 1984-85 season, Hilary O'Neill became the second Pegasus member to be elected President of the UWHU and Joan McCloy followed suit in the 1987-88 season. Joan went on to become the first president of the Irish Hockey Association in 2001.

Outstanding Ulster coaches from Pegasus in the Eighties and Nineties include Hilary Brady, Moya Gibson, Hilary O'Neill, Anne Whittock, Erika Henry ("Coach of the Year" 1995), Jenny Redpath ("Coach of the Year" 1996) and Glynis Taylor ("Coach of the Year" 1997).

Michelle Rainey, formerly Irish U21 assistant coach, is the current Ulster U16 Coach while Janet Douds is the Manager.

On the Umpire front Catherine McTavish took control of the England V Ireland match at Wembley, 1973, Janice Brown recieved her FIH Umpires Grading in 1992 and Joy Henry recieved her 'B' badge in 1997. Pegasus' longest serving umpires are Artie O'Neill (44 seasons) and Shirley McKinstry (24 seasons) whose impressive records are unlikely to be broken!