Kuper reign at an end

Hockey News: Riet Kuper's reign as Irish coach ended yesterday when the Irish Hockey Association announced they had received her resignation, eight years after the Dutch woman was appointed to the post as successor to Terry Gregg and a week after the World Cup Qualifier in Rome where Ireland missed out on qualification for the finals in September.

Kuper had earlier indicated she might stay in the position, saying she didn't know when she would step down but "it could be next year or the year after that".

The IHA must now find a successor to prepare for next year's European Championships in Manchester and the Olympic Qualifier the year after that.

The IHA said yesterday they would announce their plans shortly.

"They were fantastic years," said Kuper yesterday, "coaching the committed and responsible players of the Irish squad has been a real pleasure.

"Together and with the support of the IHA we achieved the position that Ireland has become a respected opponent for any international team. However, after all these years I know it's the right decision to retire . . .

"If all the plans for improving support to the Irish internationals can be realised then the team will grow even further and a realistic goal can be the qualification for the 2008 Olympics."

The high point of Kuper's time in charge came when the team qualified for the 2002 World Cup finals, albeit after a legal battle with Lithuania that ended up in the Court of Arbitration For Sport.

Her goal of qualification for the Olympics Games was, however, never reached, with the team missing out in the 2000 and 2004 Qualifiers, but on a European level, last summer's fifth-place finish in Dublin equalled Ireland's highest ever placing in the European Championships.

"I would like to extend the sincere thanks of the IHA to Riet for the enormous effort she has put into Irish hockey over a long period of time," said chief executive Paul Varian.

"It is a credit to how far she has taken this team that we are now able to aim our targets for the women's team at the highest levels of international hockey. The success the team has enjoyed recently is down to Riet and the standards she has engendered in the team. I would like to wish Riet all the best in her future endeavours . . ."