Former Black Stick, Tauranga's Sue Furmage heading back to compete in Barcelona after 1992 Olympics

Former Black Stick Sue Furmage and her daughter Nikki Furmage are heading to Barcelona for the Exin Masters World Cup 2018. Photo/George Novak

Tauranga's Sue Furmage hopes to put some demons to rest when she travels to Barcelona later this month to compete in the Exin Masters 2018 World Cup.

Sue was part of the Black Sticks squad for eight years and competed at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. She says the side's Olympic campaign imploded and they finished eighth.

Her disappointment with the result still lingers.

Twenty-six years later, Sue - a player, coach and umpire - will be travelling back to Spain to once again represent her country - this time as part of the New Zealand Masters Over 55 (NZO55) hockey squad.

The squad is coached by fellow Tauranga resident Gillian Gemming (ONZM), and the competition will take place between July 27 and August 5.

Sue is excited by the prospect of casting aside "some of those demons" that still linger from the ill-fated 1992 Olympic campaign.

A versatile player who has played as a right wing, a midfielder and centre-half, Sue will head into the world cup campaign as a fullback. She is looking forward to the change.

"I won't carry the ball into the centre like I used to."

Sue says the biggest challenge for the side has been the fact squad members are spread across the country.

She has also been recovering from an Achilles heel injury which put her out of action for the past three weeks. She would love to come away from the Masters event with a medal.

She is also excited to be travelling to the competition with her daughter, Nikki Furmage, 23, who coaches the NZO40 side.

She says Nikki still gives her coaching advice, which she loves to receive.

"We'll both support each other," she says.

The hockey ties are strong in the Furmage family and sport is definitely a family affair.

Nikki is also part of the Otumoetai Magic Intercity team and Sue is the player/coach of the Otumoetai Gold reserve team, also coaching Nikki's side; her husband Terry - although running is his passion - coaches a Gate Pa school mini team and is a local and Midlands umpire, often completing his role after a casual 18km run.

She has 22-year-old twin daughters - Kelly and Jodi - and a 19-year-old, Abby, who are also players. Both Kelly and Abby also play for the Otumoetai Magic Intercity team, Jodi plays for Auckland's Southern Districts side - a team Sue herself played for. Kelly will also join her mum and sister on the trip as a spectator.

"We all live and breathe hockey," Sue said.

"It's just a great way to obviously get some physical wellbeing into you ... I love the competitiveness as well," Sue said.