More international honours on way for Ynys Môn sports superwoman Meinir Thomas
Ynys Môn sportswoman Meinir Thomas is set for more international honours.
The super-fit all-rounder from Llangefni has been selected for the Wales Masters Over-55’s Hockey squad to compete at three major events – the Home Nations in Nottingham, 4 nations tournament in Germany and the World Cup in New Zealand.
It is the latest fantastic achievement for the mother-of-three, 58, who is also well-known as a player with Amlwch Town Football Club. She has also represented Ynys Môn at the International Island Games.
Married to Kev, Meinir first started playing hockey in Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni. in the late 1970’s.
She was selected for the Ynys Môn team and for North Wales in 1982. She attended trials for Wales, but just missed out on selection.
In 1983, she embarked on a hockey tour with Ynys Môn players from Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones and Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern to Holland, where she was awarded Player of the Tournament.
While she didn’t play whilst a student at Coleg Normal, she later joined Bangor City Hockey Club.
Motherhood came along, and after her son Steffan was born she could not play at all as he needed 24 care.
There was a long gap while the Thomas’ raised a family and it was not until 2017 that Meinir returned to playing hockey again on a regular basis.
She recalled: “I saw on Twitter that there were trials for the Wales Masters O50’s team in Cardiff. I attended and was selected. I went to the Home Nations in Swansea and World Cup in Barcelona in 2018.
“The following year, I was selected again and went to the Home Nations in Southgate and was awarded Most Improved Player of the Tournament. Then I went to the European Championship in Krefeld, Germany.
“There, I scored my first goal for Wales, against the Netherlands. I also got POTM.
“I was selected for the O55’s in 2020 but Covid struck. “
The squad had a Home Nations in Nottingham in 2021 and then again in 2022.
Meinir added: “I was chosen to be in the leadership team in Nottingham 2022 and captained the team for the game v Scotland – an unbelievably proud moment for me.
“In October 2022 I went to the World Cup in Cape Town and was awarded Player of the Match there for the game v Germany.
“I was selected again for the O55’s in 2023, playing the Home Nations in Glasgow and the European Championship in Valencia. I was awarded POTM for the game v Spain and Player of the Tournament. “
Club success was next as in April 2023, the Bangor City 2nds team won the Wales Challenge Cup in Swansea and the 1sts lifted their league title.
This season the 1sts are up to now unbeaten and top of the league and through to the semi-final of the Hockey Wales Cup.
The 2nds also head their league and are defending the Challenge Cup title.
And now international honours beckon again for the evergreen 58-year-old from Anglesey.
“I have just been selected to the O55’s squad for this season,” she said. “I will have the Home Nations in Nottingham, a 4 nations Tournament in Germany (Belgium, Germany, England and Wales) in July and the World Cup in New Zealand in November. Exciting times!”