Not often do you find that a father and a daughter can both represent their country in the same sport and the same time. Bob and Jane Claxton keep hockey in the family at their own World Cups.
At just 21 years old, midfielder Jane Claxton was the baby of the Hockeyroos at the World Cup in The Hague. Father Bob Claxton, by contrast is a Grand Master who coached the Australian men’s 65+ team at the Grand Masters World Cup in The Hague also. Both Jane and Bob finished on the medal podium. Jane received a silver medal when the Hockeyroos finished second to the Netherlands in the final (2-0), while Bob also received a silver medal when his team went down to the Neterlands also (3-0).
Bob, now 68, has a hockey career stretching back almost 60 years. His brother also plays hockey, as does son Matthew. Daughter Jane completes the family line-up. Bob is a tireless worker in the development of hockey as a sport . He is currently the Hon. Sec. General of the Oceania Hockey Federation. His work has seen in recent times the number of member country based Hockey associations increase to 9 members, assuring up hockey’s future in this region. Member associations are now; American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Western Samoa.
Bob at work in his role as Hon. Sec. General of the Oceania Hockey
Jane has earned her position as a Hockeyroo in2013 competing in 3 major tournaments in 2013, the 2014 World Cup and now named in the 2014 Commonwealth Games team to compete in Glasgow. She was named in 2013 the South Australian Sports Institute Junior Female Athlete of the Year.
Jane credits her father Bob and brother for her entry into hockey when at the age of six she began playing in a mixed gender competition, although the rough and tumble of playing with the boys nearly put her off.
An occupational therapy student at Curtin University in Perth, Jane is looking forward to completing her course and using her qualification to help others in the future.
Since she was young, Jane has looked up to former Hockeyroo Melanie Twitt – who played at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games – and former Olympic speed skater Stephen Bradbury for their dedication and success in overcoming challenges, and for sending out the message that you don’t need to be the perfect athlete to achieve your goals.
In a recent article from the press at the Rabobank World Cup Bob and Jane spoke fondly of their involvement as a family in hockey.
Bob has coached both Jane and her brother in the past and still has something to say about her performance. “Yes, I get my own game debriefing,” laughs Jane. “Sometimes you don’t want to hear it. No-one wants to hear the negatives. But on the other hand it is good to be able to talk to your parents about hockey.” Mum Anne-Marie laughs at the other side of the table. “Hockey dominates at the dinner table,” she says. “We have so many hockey players from all over the world come to stay and we often end up in a two or three hour discussion over dinner.” Bob is very happy with the Hockeyroos’ performance at the World Cup. “I think the game against the Netherlands was the best I’ve seen them play,” he says. “The current squad has taken women’s hockey in Australia to a new level.”
Although when it comes to Jane’ s view of watching her dad play in the local Masters competition in Australia she is not quite so enthusiastic about supporting her dad. “I’ve watched a few games but it is frustrating to watch. It’s like playing in slow motion.” She does offer her own tips on occasion. “My great words of wisdom are never really accepted,” she laughs.
But like any parent Bob speaks for his wife as well in saying of Jane who has accumulated over caps for Australia, “We are very proud of her… of her dedication and the way she keeps studying even when she is away.” “My dad is a pretty big achiever,” says Jane. “I a lot of my game style and knowledge comes from him. I do not think I would be as smart a player if I did not have a father who knows so much about hockey.” Jane is studying occupational therapy at university in Perth at the same time.
Both this father and daughter typify what hockey has – a sport for all the family to achieve their sporting goals.
