IWI: Ngati Porou ki Harataunga

MARAE: Ra Ora

BIRTHPLACE: Coromandel (12 August 1951)

ROWING, NETBALL

Biography | tuhinga koi ora

Ruth was the youngest of six born to Doreen Sarah (nee Thwaites) and Reginald James Lidgard.  Her siblings are Reginald Walter, Richard Albert, Daisy Isabel, Doreen Eva and Joseph Robert.

They moved from their family farm the “Maungatu” in Kennedy Bay to Hamilton where Ruth started at Fairfield Primary.  The family again moved, this time to Auckland where her Primary, Intermediate and High Schooling was in Otahuhu.  This is when sports became a large part of her life, representing Otahuhu College in Netball, Basketball and Athletics, also a Prefect and House Leader.

She remembers as a 14 year old not being allowed to play for the High School Senior A Netball team because that was reserved for Seniors only, so instead, played two years in the Business A grade at Auckland Catholic Courts until she was a fifth former and therefore of age.

Ruth attended Auckland Teachers’ College from 1970 – 72 where she attained her Teachers Certificate.  It was at this time she joined the Collegiate Netball Club being coached be the esteemed June Mariu.

Taught at: Ferguson Intermediate, Otara, Auckland 1973, 74, 75

Tangaroa College, Otara,

Auckland – Founding Faculty, Head of Physical Education 1976.

Papakura High School, Papakura, South Auckland – Physical Education 1977

In 1975 while teaching with Rob McCarty (NZ Rowing Eight – Gold Medalist, Munich) Ruth was introduced to Rowing.  New Zealand was preparing for the World Rowing Regatta to be held on Lake Karapiro and needed woman representation.  While a novice rower with the Auckland Rowing Club, was selected for the 1975 New Zealand Women’s Coxed Four which toured Australia.  Selected the following year 1976 to tour New Zealand with the New Zealand Women’s Rowing Team in the First Coxed Four.In 1977 she made selection, for the Montreal New Zealand Olympic Women’s Coxed Four however the women’s team was dropped for lack of funding.

1979 married Victor Emmanuel Maspero Jr from San Antonio, Texas and moved to the United States. Two children, Victor Emmanuel III and Kathryn Ryan.  Son Victor went on to play college football at the University of A&M Kingsville, Texas and daughter Kathryn Ryan won All American honours as a high school volleyball player and played for the University of San Diego, San Diego, California.

Ruth currently (2012) lives in Port Aransas, Texas and is the owner of an Interior Design Company.

Achievements | tutukitanga

ROWING

1975/76              Auckland Rowing Club National Women’s Coxed Eight Champions

1975/76              New Zealand Rowing – Women’s Coxed Four – Australian Tour

1976/77              New Zealand Rowing – Women’s First Coxed Four – New Zealand Tour

1977/78              New Zealand Rowing – Women’s Coxed Four – Montreal Olympics – (Cancelled)

NETBALL

1970, 71             Auckland Netball Under 20’s Representative

1975, 76, 77      Auckland Netball First Grade Representative

1975, 76, 77      National Netball First Grade Champions