Joan McCloy

Joan McCloy
née McCandless
Personal information
NationalityBritish (Northern Irish)
Sport
SportBadminton
Medal record
Representing  Northern Ireland
Irish Nationals
1968–70 women's doubles

Joan McCloy née Joan McCandless, is a former international badminton player from Northern Ireland who competed at the Commonwealth Games and was a three-times champion of Ireland.

Biography

Born Joan McCandless, she was a physical education teacher based in the Finaghy area of Belfast[1] and represented Ulster at provincial level.[2]

McCandless played doubles with John McCloy, an Irish international player[3] and in July 1965, married McCloy at the Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church, Finaghy, Belfast. She played under her married name of McCloy thereafter.[4]

McCloy represented the Northern Irish team[5][6] at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland,[7] where she competed in the singles and doubles events.[8]

She was a three-times Irish women's doubles champion at the Irish National Badminton Championships, winning the title with Lena McAleese in 1968, 1969 and 1970.[9]

Capped nine times by Northern Ireland, McCloy later became the president of the Irish Hockey Association from 2000 to 2002.[10] In 2002 she was awarded an OBE for services to hockey.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Smiling finalists in minor grade". Larne Times. 9 March 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 13 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "Carson gets Irish place". Belfast Telegraph. 27 January 1970. p. 18. Retrieved 13 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "At The Top 10 Years". Ireland's Saturday Night. 11 July 1970. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "McCloy - McCandless". Belfast Telegraph. 17 July 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 13 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Guide to the Games". Ireland's Saturday Night. 11 July 1970. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Peter Moore". Derry Journal. 26 February 1971. p. 15. Retrieved 13 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Northern Ireland Edinburgh 1970". Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Badminton stars for Edinbugh". Larne Times. 9 July 1970. p. 13. Retrieved 13 March 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Irish Senior Nationals Winners". Badminton Ireland. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  10. ^ "World of Sport: Joan McCloy". Belfast Telegraph. 11 March 2000. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Queen honours sporting stars". BBC Sport. 14 June 2002. Retrieved 13 March 2026.