Maxine Blomquist Explained

Maxine Blomquist
Birth Date:13 March 1956
Relatives:Annette Heffernan (sister)
Kate Heffernan (niece)
Georgia Heffernan (niece)
Shirley Langrope (cousin)
Height:1.80m
Positions:
GK, GD, WD,
WA, GA, GS
Nationalteam1:New Zealand
Nationalyears1:1974–1982
Nationalcaps1:31

Maxine Blomquist (born 13 March 1956) is a former New Zealand netball international. Between 1974 and 1982, she made 31 senior appearances for New Zealand. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won a gold medal at the 1979 World Netball Championships and a bronze medal at the 1975 World Netball Championships. Her sister, Annette Heffernan, their cousin, Shirley Langrope, and her two nieces, Kate Heffernan and Georgia Heffernan, have all played international netball for New Zealand. Maxine and Annette were the first set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. Kate and Georgia were the third set.

Early life and family

Blomquist is originally from Canterbury. She is the sister of Annette Heffernan and a cousin of Shirley Langrope, who are also former New Zealand netball internationals. Annette and Maxine were the first set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Her two nieces, Kate Heffernan and Georgia Heffernan are also both New Zealand netball internationals. In 2024, they became the third set.[4] [6] [7] [8]

Netball career

New Zealand

Between 1974 and 1982, Blomquist made 31 senior appearances for New Zealand. On 9 November 1974, she made her senior debut against England during an away tour. Her cousin Shirley Langrope captained New Zealand on this tour and again when they were team mates at the 1975 World Netball Championships.[1] [3] Blomquist was known as a defender and she regularly played in all three defensive positions. Her versatility and height also saw used as a goal attack.[1] She was also a member of the New Zealand teams that won a gold medal at the 1979 World Netball Championships.[9] [10] [11]

TournamentsPlace
1975 World Netball Championships[12]
1979 World Netball Championships[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maxine Blomquist. www.silverferns.co.nz. 14 April 2022.
  2. Web site: Annette Heffernan. www.silverferns.co.nz. 10 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Shirley Langrope. www.silverferns.co.nz. 7 April 2022.
  4. Web site: History set to repeat for netball's Heffernan clan. newsroom.co.nz. 26 July 2022. 27 January 2024.
  5. Web site: Selby-Rickit becomes Silver Fern #161. www.silverferns.co.nz. 29 August 2016. 10 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Kate Heffernan. www.silverferns.co.nz. 7 January 2023.
  7. Web site: Heffernan twins join forces on court. www.southlandsport.com. 24 June 2020. 26 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Newest Silver Fern shocked by call-up against world champs. www.rnz.co.nz. 25 January 2024. 27 January 2024.
  9. Web site: Brendon Egan. Famous Five: Salute to Silver Ferns' World Cup winning teams . stuff.co.nz. 30 November 2021. 22 July 2019.
  10. Web site: Vitality Netball World Cup Liverpool 2019 Media Guide. www.silverferns.co.nz. https://web.archive.org/web/20200209105237/https://www.silverferns.co.nz/images/silver-ferns/documents/2019_WC_Media_Guide_Digital_Version_LOW.pdf. 9 February 2020. 19 July 2019. 17 September 2023.
  11. Web site: Brendon Egan. Tears, triumphs, and tribulations: How the Silver Ferns have fared at Netball World Cup. stuff.co.nz. 21 July 2019. 17 September 2023.
  12. Web site: Women Netball IV World Championship 1975. www.todor66.com. 5 January 2020.
  13. Web site: Women Netball V World Championship 1979. www.todor66.com. 5 January 2020.