Netball: Van Dyk prepares to rewrite record books

Irene van Dyk. Picture / Getty Images

''Hello, Bianca speaking" a little voice whispers down the phone.

A miniature version of her mother, Silver Fern shooter Irene van Dyk, little Bianca is the lady of the house when her mum is away.

But tomorrow night the van Dyks' home will sit empty as Bianca and her dad, Christie, head to Auckland to watch the most important woman in their lives become the most capped player in world netball.

Since she was lured to Wellington in 2000, van Dyk has become a firm favourite with New Zealand netball fans.

Her deadly accurate shot and charming nature mean you would be hard pressed to find a sportsperson who has had more of an impact on New Zealand sport.

But for Christie and Bianca, van Dyk's success has meant a certain amount of sacrifice and willingness to share the star goal shoot with New Zealand's netball-crazy public.

Christie and Irene met at university where Christie was a talented cricketer and Irene a gifted athlete.

They married in 1994, by which time Irene had already cemented a spot in the South African side.

She was a star shooter from day one, and Australia wanted her, but it was an offer to come to New Zealand in 2000 that eventually won her over.

For Christie, however, it was a different story.

"We came to New Zealand in December of 1999, I had a look around and had a chat to a few people," Christie said.

"I just said to her 'I am not prepared to give up everything that I have got to move here and start over'. At that stage I was a teacher and I was happy. I had my own cricket academy with 120 kids. Everything was going well. We had a nice life. I said no."

So Irene came to New Zealand without Christie, agreeing to a season with the Capital Shakers.

But Christie did join her for a week-long holiday in April. A holiday that would change their lives.

"On my last three or four days she mentioned that Yvonne [Willering] was keen to put her in the Silver Ferns and was I prepared to move?

"It was difficult. To be honest, even the day I left it was still not easy. It was tough on me. It doesn't matter where we go or what Irene tried to achieve, I was always the one that needed to sacrifice.

"It was tough, but if I look back today I say 'hey, that was the best decision ever'. My career is just fantastic now and I am happy."

Now the assistant coach of the Wellington Firebirds cricket side, Christie said he was his wife's biggest supporter and toughest critic.

"I am probably the proudest husband in the whole world, it is a privilege to be part of her life," he declares.

"I am her biggest supporter but when she comes home we do talk about things. I like to analyse people a lot. We talk about why she moved there, why she did this and that ... we can talk for hours and hours.

"At the start she used to always question me but over the last few years she has started to listen.

"If I just say 'oh you are lovely, oh you are fantastic' she is not going to learn anything, is she?"

His cricket commitments mean he cannot attend all of Irene's games, but when he can go, he happily positions himself in the crowd.

"At the start people used to introduce me as Irene van Dyk's husband, which used to really piss me off. But now, because I have done my own things, they say I am Christie, Irene van Dyk's husband.

"It is nice for me to sit there and observe the people. I enjoy that environment. When I watch it on TV I get into bad habits. Sometimes I'll drink two or three beers in the first quarter, especially when they are playing Australia."

Although his wife is about to reach the milestone of 129 tests, Christie doesn't believe the end is necessarily near.

"I don't want her to be dropped from the Silver Ferns one day. When I can see she is not the best shooter in New Zealand, I'll tell her to stop.

"Until then, there are always things you can work on. In my heart I wish she could get 100 per cent in a test match. The day that happens I'll be the happiest. If she doesn't achieve it that is okay, but I know she'll give it her best shot.

"She is getting old but the amount of time she is putting in at this age is what really amazes me. There are not many people out there who would be prepared to do what she does. That is what I think is the difference between Irene and a good player, if I am allowed to say that."

Despite his initial hesitation over immigrating, Christie doesn't see his family leaving New Zealand.

"We just love the people and the lifestyle.

"Bianca is just like her mum. She loves her netball.

"I am lucky in that I have got two stunning women in my life."

Irene van Dyk

* Set to become world's most-capped netballer tomorrow

* Caps: 72 for South Africa, 56 New Zealand

* Born: June 21, 1972

* 1.9m

* New Zealand debut 2000

* South Africa debut 1994

* Helped Proteas to beat Silver Ferns at world championship in 1995 where South Africa finished runners-up to Australia

* Plans to help New Zealand defend world title in Fiji, 2007