"It's been wonderful since Emily's been in the province and having represented her country," Hawke's Bay Hockey chairman Iain Taylor said last night of the Palmerston North-born player who lives with her partner and deer farmer Harry Gaddum. Gaddum and her parents, Sarah and Brian Naylor, of Palmerston North, have been watching her compete in Glasgow.
"With such pride and longevity it is wonderful for her to win bronze, not just for Hawke's Bay but New Zealand," Taylor said.
The Havelock North lawyer couldn't think of anyone more deserving to step on the medal dais.
Her self-sacrificing demeanour made it "tremendous to see her achieve on the world stage".
"I think she's been a very good role model and her junior hockey commitment has been ideal when time has allowed her to contribute in that area," he says of Naylor who has hinted previously to Hawke's Bay Today that she may retire rather than keep the fire burning for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.
New Zealand women's coach, Mark Hager, has reportedly indicated he may want to pursue his dream job of mentoring the Australia men's team, although the former Australia international player has built an affinity with the women and harbours a desire to remain at the helm for a stint in Rio.
"Mark Hager has done a fabulous job with the women so if he goes it'll be a big loss," Taylor said.
New Zealand Hockey, he felt, should do everything to retain his services until Rio.
The Black Sticks men endured agony after losing to England in their bronze medal playoff early yesterday morning.
Shea McAleese. Photo / AP
Napier-born Shea McAleese, 29, missed out on a podium place when the Kiwis lost in a penalty shootout after the sides were locked 3-3 in regulation time.
McAleese's father, Dan, said last night the Colin Batch-coached side had been disappointed not to come away from Glasgow with a medal but happy with the way they played against England.
"Partly because the shootout is a bit like soccer because it becomes a lottery so anything can happen," the senior McAleese said.
The Tamatea Intermediate school teacher said his son was satisfied with his performance even though the Englishmen had stifled him on the turf.
"They marked him really well so he saw that as them showing him a bit of respect," he said of the two-time Olympian who hopes to carry on, if selected, to Rio.
The blokes were disappointed with their loss to India, finding the wet and freezing day didn't help their cause.
"India are very skilful ... but that's how tournaments work so anyone can win on their day."
Shea McAleese will spend a few days in London with his father's brother before jetting off to The Hague to play professionally. He'll return to Napier for Christmas in December.
"That's where Shea earns some money because you don't get money playing for New Zealand," Dan McAleese said.
Gillies Kaka, of Havelock North, clinched silver with the All Blacks sevens team while Bay-born Mandy Boyd, living in Christchurch, claimed bronze after skipping the lawn bowls four combo.
