Kate Heffernan
Kate Alexandra Heffernan (born 7 October 1999) is a New Zealand netball international and former cricketer. She represented the New Zealand national netball team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup. She captained New Zealand at the 2024 Netball Nations Cup. In 2018, she also made two appearances for the New Zealand women's national cricket team. Heffernan comes from a family of netball internationals: at the 2024 Netball Nations Cup, herself and her sister, Georgia Heffernan, became the third set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. Her mother, Annette Heffernan and her aunt, Maxine Blomquist, were the first set. However, the Heffernan sisters are the first sisters to actually play in the same team at the same time. A cousin, Shirley Langrope, was also a New Zealand netball international. As well as playing netball together for New Zealand, the Heffernan sisters have played together in several teams, including the Southern Steel netball team and the Otago Sparks women's cricket team.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kate Alexandra Heffernan[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 7 October 1999[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relative(s) | Annette Heffernan (mother) Georgia Heffernan (sister) Maxine Blomquist (aunt) Shirley Langrope (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St Hilda's Collegiate School | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Otago | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netball career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kate Alexandra Heffernan (born 7 October 1999) is a New Zealand netball international and former cricketer. She represented the New Zealand national netball team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup. She captained New Zealand at the 2024 Netball Nations Cup. In 2018, she also made two appearances for the New Zealand women's national cricket team.
Heffernan comes from a family of netball internationals: at the 2024 Netball Nations Cup, herself and her sister, Georgia Heffernan, became the third set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. Her mother, Annette Heffernan and her aunt, Maxine Blomquist, were the first set. However, the Heffernan sisters are the first sisters to actually play in the same team at the same time. A cousin, Shirley Langrope, was also a New Zealand netball international. As well as playing netball together for New Zealand, the Heffernan sisters have played together in several teams, including the Southern Steel netball team and the Otago Sparks women's cricket team.
Early life, family and education
[edit]Heffernan is the daughter of Noel and Annette Heffernan. Her mother, her aunt, Maxine Blomquist, her sister, Georgia Heffernan and a cousin, Shirley Langrope, are all New Zealand netball internationals. Her father played rugby union for Canterbury Country.[4][5][6][7] The Heffernan family live on their sheep and beef farm, near Tapanui, West Otago.[8] The Heffernan sisters attended Tapanui's Blue Mountain College[9] and St Hilda's Collegiate School.[10][11] Kate attended the University of Otago, where she studied psychology.[6][12]
Cricket
[edit]| Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Left-arm medium-fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| T20I debut (cap 50) | 16 March 2018 v West Indies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 20 March 2018 v West Indies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016/17–2018/19 | Otago Sparks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 17 August 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early years
[edit]Heffernan represented Otago at under-15 and under-16 levels.[9] She and Georgia Heffernan also won national titles representing St Hilda's Collegiate School.[11][13][14]
Otago Sparks
[edit]Between 2016 and 2019, Heffernan played as a left-arm medium bowler for Otago Sparks. She played 28 matches for Sparks.[1][15][16][17][18][19] She was a member of the Sparks team that won the 2016–17 New Zealand Women's Twenty20 Competition. In the final against Canterbury Magicians, Heffernan took 4–21 off her four overs.[20] Her 2018 Sparks team mates included her sister, Georgia Heffernan.[14][17][21]
New Zealand
[edit]In February 2018, Heffernan was called up to play for New Zealand.[22][23][24] She subsequently made two women's Twenty20 international appearances.[1][8][25][26] On 16 March 2018 she made her WT20I debut against the West Indies during their tour of New Zealand.[27][28][29] On 20 March 2018 she made a second appearance against the same opponents.[1][25]
Netball
[edit]St Hilda's
[edit]In 2016 and 2017, the Heffernan sisters were members of the St Hilda's Collegiate School team that won back-to-back South Island secondary school netball titles. 2016 was the first time St Hilda's had reached the final five stage and final of the tournament.[10][30][31][32][33] In 2016 the St Hilda's team assistant coach was their mother, Annette Heffernan.[10]
Netball South
[edit]Between 2017 and 2019, the Heffernan sisters played for Netball South in the National Netball League.[34][35][36][37][38][39] Ahead of the 2018 season, while playing for Netball South, they were also named as training partners for Southern Steel.[33][40]
Southern Steel
[edit]Since 2018, Heffernan has played for Southern Steel.[41] On 11 June 2018, she made her senior debut for Steel in a Round 6 match against Mainland Tactix. She joined Steel as a replacement for an injured Dani Gray and received a contract for the remainder of the season.[42][43][44] She was a fringe member of the Steel team that won the 2018 ANZ Premiership.[45][46] However, she subsequently established herself as senior member of the Steel team. She initially played for Steel at wing defence before switching to centre for the 2021 season.[12][19][46][47][48] Her sister, Georgia Heffernan, also plays for Steel.[49][50][51]
- ANZ Premiership statistics
| Season | Team | G/A | GA | RB | CPR | FD | IC | DF | PN | TO | MP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Steel | 0/0 | ? | 0 | 6 | ? | 0 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
| 2019 | Steel | 0/0 | 16 | 0 | 51 | 38 | 22 | 20 | 118 | 8 | 16 |
| 2020 | Steel | 0/0 | 14 | 0 | 69 | 21 | 18 | 36 | 101 | 12 | 14 |
| 2021 | Steel | 0/0 | 133 | 0 | 11 | 298 | 25 | 39 | 134 | 54 | 16 |
| 2022 | Steel | 0/0 | 172 | 0 | 41 | 333 | 24 | 41 | 103 | 47 | 15 |
| 2023 | Steel | 0/0 | ? | 0 | 23 | 366 | 26 | 37 | 97 | 46 | 15 |
| Career | |||||||||||
New Zealand
[edit]In August 2021, Heffernan was included in the 2021–22 New Zealand squad.[53][54][55] She was subsequently included in the squad for the 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series, but didn't get on court.[19][56][57] On 12 October 2021, she made her unofficial debut for New Zealand against New Zealand Men.[19][58] She was included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games squad[59] and, on 30 July 2022, she eventually made her senior debut in New Zealand's opening match against Northern Ireland.[2][60] In just her sixth test, she helped New Zealand win the bronze medal.[61] She went on to represent New Zealand at the 2023 Netball World Cup and was named Midcourter of the Tournament.[26][62][63][64]
Ahead of the 2024 Netball Nations Cup, Heffernan was named vice-captain to Phoenix Karaka.[65][66] During the tournament Georgia Heffernan made her senior debut for New Zealand against Australia. The Heffernan sisters now became the third set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. The first set were their mother and aunt, Annette Heffernan and Maxine Blomquist. However, the Heffernan sisters are the first sisters to actually play in the same team at the same time.[7][67][68] On 22 January 2024, Heffernan captained New Zealand in the match against Uganda.[69][70]
Honours
[edit]Netball
[edit]- Constellation Cup
- Winners: 2024
- Taini Jamison Trophy
- ANZ Premiership
- Winners: 2018
Cricket
[edit]- Women's Super Smash
- Winners: 2016–17
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Kate Heffernan". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Kate Heffernan". www.silverferns.co.nz. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "ANZ Premiership 2021 Media Guide" (PDF). anzpremiership.co.nz. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Annette Heffernan". www.silverferns.co.nz. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "History set to repeat for netball's Heffernan clan". newsroom.co.nz. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Heffernan twins join forces on court". www.southlandsport.com. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Newest Silver Fern shocked by call-up against world champs". www.rnz.co.nz. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ a b Brendon Egan (14 July 2023). "The moment that helped Silver Fern Kate Heffernan choose netball over cricket". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Talented twins juggling sports and loving it". www.odt.co.nz. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "NZSS Secondary Schools Netball Championships profile: Kate Heffernan/St Hilda's Collegiate". www.collegesportmedia.co.nz. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ a b "St Hilda's Collegiate claim maiden title". www.collegesportmedia.co.nz. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Heffernan still very much appreciating her time with Steel". www.odt.co.nz. 4 May 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "NZSS Secondary School Girls cricket tournament this weekend". www.collegesportmedia.co.nz. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Big St Hilda's presence in Sparks". www.odt.co.nz. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Demanding task for Sparks against Hearts". www.odt.co.nz. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Kate Heffernan of the Otago Sparks". www.photosport.nz. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Heffernan puts netball first". www.odt.co.nz. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Heffernan picks Steel — for now". www.odt.co.nz. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Heffernan taking it one step at a time". www.odt.co.nz. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Suzie Bates sparks maiden T20 triumph". www.nzc.nz. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ "Sparks snuffed out in Oamaru". www.nzc.nz. 26 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "White Ferns call up Otago teenager Kate Heffernan". stuff.co.nz. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "New faces in White Ferns squads to face West Indies". www.nzc.nz. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "Two newcomers set for White Ferns debut". www.rnz.co.nz. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Kate Heffernan". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Silver Fern Kate Heffernan hungry for another World Cup". www.rnz.co.nz. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "2nd T20I (D/N), West Indies Women tour of New Zealand at Mount Maunganui". www.espncricinfo.com. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ "NZ White Ferns v West Indies - 2nd T20 at Tauranga". www.photosport.nz. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "Heffernan relishing two sports". www.odt.co.nz. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "St Hilda's Collegiate hang on to beat Marlborough Girls' College in South Island secondary schools netball final". stuff.co.nz. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Heffernan sisters lead way for St Hilda's". www.odt.co.nz. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Two in row for St Hilda's". www.odt.co.nz. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Promising Dunedin competition youngsters identified". www.dunedinnetball.co.nz. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "A mix of old and new faces in 2017 Netball South training squad". stuff.co.nz. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "2017 Competitions" (PDF). www.netballsouth.co.nz. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Netball South Annual Report 2017" (PDF). www.silverferns.co.nz. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Netball South training squad named to prepare for 2018 Beko League". stuff.co.nz. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
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- ^ "Netball South name training squad". www.southlandsport.com. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "Trio named as Steel training partners". anzpremiership.co.nz. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Kate Heffernan". anzpremiership.co.nz. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Steel snatch one-goal win off hapless Tactix". anzpremiership.co.nz. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "Heffernan promoted to fulltime Steel role". www.odt.co.nz. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Netball: Young sporting sensation Kate Heffernan promoted into Southern Steel". www.nzherald.co.nz. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Central Pulse 53–54 Southern Steel". mc.championdata.com. 12 August 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Chance for Heffernan to take on more leadership". www.odt.co.nz. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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- ^ Brendon Egan (22 May 2021). "Positional versatility could inch Steel's Kate Heffernan closer to Silver Ferns dream". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Double netball success for Southern Steel twins". www.southlandsport.com. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Double kudos for talented Heffernan netball duo". stuff.co.nz. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "Honours bestowed on sisters". www.odt.co.nz. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Kate Heffernan". central.rookieme.com. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "2021/22 Silver Ferns and Development squads announced". www.silverferns.co.nz. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "Heffernan dual international in waiting". www.odt.co.nz. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ "Daughters of Silver Ferns passed the black dress". www.newsroom.co.nz. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ a b Brendon Egan (20 May 2022). "Kate Heffernan's height, defence could help her in Silver Ferns' centre battle". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Kate Heffernan of the Silver Ferns". www.photosport.nz. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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- ^ a b "Vice captaincy an honour for Kate Heffernan". stuff.co.nz. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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