Hockey: A proven passion for the game

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Jaimee Provan first hit a hockey ball as a four-year-old in Christchurch. Inevitable really that she would pick up a stick - her mum, two sisters and two aunts all played.

Twenty years on and after progressing through representative, national age sides and various academies she is 10 games away from playing her 50th international at senior level.

If all goes to plan, Provan will notch her half century in Perth early next month when New Zealand play China in their seventh game at the 10th World Cup.

It has been a whirlwind international career for the diminutive Provan, who played her first international against South Korea in March last year.

By the time she returns from Perth, Provan could have played 29 internationals in the year.

"While some of us have played a lot of hockey in the past couple of years, it does not mean we will go on and run up the big numbers players did in the past," says Provan, who stuck with her hockey after turning down a trial for a Canterbury soccer team in her younger days.

"Hockey these days is so hard on your body with the number of games we play on surfaces which are not especially forgiving.

"I have been lucky with injuries. I haven't missed a game through injury since I was first selected."

At 1.6m and 54kg, Provan is no giant but admits she does not mind a "bit of biff".

In New Zealand's last game at the Champions Trophy in Macau in August she broke her thumb, went off, had it taped up and returned to the fray. Two weeks later she was back playing.

Juggling her personal life and her hockey has been a challenge but one she relishes.

Now in a relationship with cricket international Lou Vincent, Provan juggles her studies at AUT, where she is doing a sports and recreation degree, with her hockey and time at home where she and Vincent are sharing the joys of a new puppy.

"Lou has been really supportive. He knew virtually nothing about hockey but has helped me out in my training. We go for a few runs together but we have to watch things as we are both very competitive. Sometimes things can end in tears."

The pair, who met after the first Sports Cafe programme of the year, where Vincent and Andre Adams were guests and Provan (who admits she did not know who Vincent was) was in the audience, share their love of sport right down to the numbers on their backs.

Provan plays in the No 8 shirt for the Black Sticks, Vincent his ODIs with the same number.

Vincent showed his support for Provan, who plays a vital attacking role for the national side on either wing, by flying to the South Island to watch her play the United States just hours after returning from the tour to the West Indies this year.

After moving to Auckland - much to her father's disgust as a one-eyed Canterbury supporter - Provan has since switched to playing for North Harbour.

"Dad finds that a bit easier to take," says Provan, who will have her mother and grandmother among the crowds at the World Cup.

Provan, who has played her 40 internationals under coach Jan Borren, whom she says has "a fantastic hockey mind", is keen to add to her international record.

"I want to keep playing for as long as I can. I would love to go to the Athens Olympics. I will only be 26. It might be time to re-evaluate then."