Women’s hockey history was created 83 years ago on February 4, 1939, when the British Guiana Women Hockey Association (BGWHA) hosted the All-American Team.
The facts leading up to the visit of the Americans read like a romance in 1937. An invitation was received from the Philadelphia Association by the local hockey entity inviting a team to the United States. Despite some effort on our part, the invitation reluctantly had to be declined for financial reasons.
Undaunted by this set back, Isabel Mittelholzer, honorary secretary of the BGWHA, continued her correspondence with the American entity and eventually persuaded them that a visit of a team to our country would be instrumental in not only in cementing the bonds of our hockey friendship, but more firmly boost the game and provide the touring team with a really enviable experience.
The girls from Philadelphia disembarked the S.S Crijnssen which docked at the Sandbach Parker wharf. The first match which was held at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), was won by the BGWHA team, 4-2.
Agnes Gemon bagged a brace while Lucy Wishart and Joan Bayley added to the score with solitary conversions. For the Americans, Elizabeth Lockett and Patricia Goodall scored. In the second match, the Americans prevailed 2-1 via goals from Marguerite Lee and Lockett. For the locals, Wishart scored.
The Americans eventually prevailed 4-1 in the final match at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground to win the series 2-1.
Female hockey in British Guiana
This reality commenced in 1927 when Mrs. J. Lewis founded the Lewis Hockey Club (LHC) which was later renamed the Georgetown Hockey Club. The Guides Hockey Club came into existence shortly after and local interest and the resulting rivalries soon emerged. The British Guiana Hockey Club joined the fold shortly, which resulted in a three-way rivalry.
Meanwhile, Guides Club was rebranded Nomads and subsequently evolved into their present body, GFC Hockey Club. Ramblers Hockey Club joined the fray a year later. Two competitions were played annually by the ladies that usually resulted in great struggles for supremacy between the Georgetown Hockey Club and GFC.
