During my three years at Jesus (1975-1978) I represented the college at mixed and women’s hockey, rowing, tennis and athletics.
I rowed in the Osiris crew in 1976, and was the first Jesus woman to win a full Blue (in rowing) in 1977. I won a half Blue in athletics in 1976, and played hockey in the Oxford second XI against Cambridge in 1976. Amazingly I even passed my degree (Class II, PPE).
Sport at Oxford helped to make me who I am. Sport at Jesus College made me friends for a lifetime.
Oxford University Women’s Athletics Club, 1976
Oxford University Women’s Hockey Club Second XI, 1976
Oxford University Women’s Blue Boat, 1976
Below is a photo of the combined Jesus/Brasenose hockey team in 1976. I’m wearing my Blues kit sitting on the right. The Canadian Olympic captain and Jesubite Alan Hobkirk is the chap with the fine moustache sitting behind me!
The combined Jesus/Brasenose hockey team, 1976
Alumnus and future USA international Peter Jones (1975, Mathematics) wrote this in 2016 about the photo:
“What a picture! Alan played in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and was captain of the Canadian team. I played for the USA once I became a citizen and captained the USA team in the 2003 Indoor World Cup, coached the team in the 2011 IWC and have since played in several masters hockey world cups. This picture was in our first year. Due to being one of the first five mixed colleges, we had combined with BNC and made our way to the final of cuppers. We duly won that game and managed to get celebratory dinners on high table out of both colleges. The next year we won the first division league and had private dinners. I remember entering our team in the English Hockey Association knock out. A top local club was most surprised when they showed up to play us at Jesus’ field and found we had two ladies in our line up-Sue Jones and Julie Gillam. A couple of chauvinists in their team seemed most upset. Early in the game, one of them deliberately flattened Sue and then said something like “are you all right little girl?” We were all concerned for Sue, but she picked herself up and said she was fine. A few minutes later the same idiot came charging through. I think we all cringed for what was about to happen as he seemed more interested in flattening Sue again than attacking our goal. Then everything changed. Sue dipped her shoulder, caught him low, and used his own momentum to lift him up and over. The stunned “gentleman” was lying on the ground when Sue walked over offered him a hand up and said “are you all right, little boy.” Everyone cracked up and the game was played in good spirit after that. However, the club later complained to the EHA and the following year their rules were changed to exclude women from the men’s competition. I think I may have some notes at home that might help me on filling in some other names, but Paul Roberts comes to mind immediately. Anyone recognize themselves or others? Thanks for bringing back some great memories, Sue. You were a tough defender with a great tackle and a hard hit in those days!”