Women's Hockey at Bangalore was a game started by a small enthusiastic group of the Anglo Indian Community - the stalwarts of which were Majorie Suares, a P.Ed. Teacher of the Bishop Cotton Girl's High School and a long jump bronze medallist of the 1st Asian Games held in Delhi in 1951 and Barbara Webster a P.Ed. Teacher of the Sacred Heart Girl's High School, a medallist at Discus Throw, both of whom could well be called the pioneers of Karnataka (then Mysore) Women's Hockey at Bangalore.

Strongly believing in the motto 'catch them young' the game in 1955 - 56 was started in just 4 schools - The Bishop Cotton GHS, Sacred Heart GHS, St. Francis Xavier's GHS ( with Doreen Suares, sister of Majorie Suares, as the P.Ed. Teacher) and the Baldwin's GHS., spreading to other schools like the Clarence H. School, the Frank Anthony Public School, etc. during the later years. The schools in which the girls also excelled in athletics ( BSAA Sports) provided the Clubs with a regular input of talent and this being the time the Anglo Indian Community having a major presence at Bangalore contributed greatly to the respective school and Club Teams - a contribution that has been enjoyable.

Inter School & Club Tournaments were held, also Inter Association matches between neighbouring States ( Madras now Tamilnadu, & in Mysore), the game being played with healthy rivalry in a most healthy atmosphere. Soon the Women's Hockey became a very popular game in bangalore, when one saw abundant talent especially in the Inter - Club matches which featured teams like the Blue Jays for whom the Indian players like left inside forward Shirley Fitzgerald (nee Briggs ) and Eileen di Lisi played, the I Club let by Majorie Suares, the eagles represented by Indian players Nirmala Mandanna and Durdana Nair (nee Gill) and the Bangalore Sporting Team for which the wingers with wings - Rita Britto and Marie Narayan ( nee Morris) played, also Elura Britto, Mae Britto, and Jacqueline Colaco. The Bangalore Sporting Team usually walking away with the Trophy - the famous Dorothy Raoof Sait Trophy in existence till today.

It was however not until 1960 that the State body got the recognition of the Indian Women's Hockey Federation when the Karnataka State Team ( then Mysore) took the field for the first time in the National Championship. The foundation had no doubt been set up and it was during this period of the 1960's that the Bangalore women excelled and dominated the game - It was the Golden Era of Women's Hockey when players proved Women's Hockey was a game of colour, speed, and thrills galore. The game being played with dedication, sheer zest of ploy and love for the game.

The enthusiastic players and Karnataka Association received a lot of encouragement from the media. Denzil Letoille former Sports Editor of the Indian Express and the late Leslie Wilson former Sports Editor of the Deccan Herald has stated that Women's Hockey was on the upgrade. The prophecy came true in the 1960 National Championship at Trivandrum when Karnataka women players held the State flag aloft with their sensational victory, and thus continued for 8 successive years. In every match played - Statewise or Nationalwise, the team gave superlative performances with convincing wins, each girl bore a stamp of supremacy and was a class by herself, excelling in the position she played, wingers Rita Britto and Marie Narayan ( nee Morris) with their athleticism and speed down the flanks earned great appreciation and applause from the public. The year 1960 apart from Karnataka winning the national Championship for the 1st time in the 1st participation evokes nostalgic memories as the team included four sisters of a family - the Britto sisters Priscilla, Elura, Rita and Mae - students of St. Francis Xaviers G.H. School not excluding the school goalkeeper Gabraelle Piers ( nee Pinto), Marie Narayan ( nee Morris), Esther (nee Herbert), Sylvia Morris ( nee Raines) and Francina David, Barbara (nee Pereira) were students of Sacred Heart G.H. School while Shirley Fitzgerald (nee Briggs), Deanna ( nee Wilson) and Eileen de Lisi belonged to Bishop Cotton G.H. School, Majorie Wilson then Secretary of the Karnataka State Women's Hockey Association accompanying the team as Manageress.

After the next National Championship at Bhopal in 1961, a Indian Team was selected to play 3 Tests and 4 Exhibition matches at Ceylon now Sri Lanka. Karnataka Women dominated the Indian Team with 5 players and a spectacular outcome - India scoring 59-0 in the matches, a record score. The National Championship followed in 1962 to 1965 were a repeat performance with the Lady Ratan Tata Trophy - symbol of National supremacy being the permanent possession of Karnataka State. The Committee of the Karnataka State Women's Hockey Association at this time was under the Presidentship of late Mrs. Gool Tarapore, late Gwen Webb ( V. President) R.D. Anderson ( V. President) late Raoof Sait (V. President) and late L. Britto, Secretary, were very encouraging to the players and always gave the players needs priority.

The Anglo Indian girls who had a major presence in the Karnataka Team with the passage of time - many left the town and migrated to different parts of the world. Replacements were there in Virginia Smalley, Jacqueline Colaco, Colleen (nee Patterson), Durdana Nair (nee Gill), Heather (nee Faville), Shoba Sreedhavan, Margaret Conceicao to name a few. At the 1967 National Championship at Trivandrum, there were heavy rains for 3 consecutive days. The final match was played against Punjab in a water logged pitch, many of Karnataka's players including the Beauty Queen - Heather Faville played barefoot. Despite the odds, the Karnataka team moved like a well oiled machine to victory - achieving their goal - it showed a good team irrespective of odds never complain.

In 1964, 7 players namely Marie Narayan, Nirmala Mandana, Shirley Fitzgerald, Rita Britto, Elvera Britto and Durdana Nair were chosen to represent India in a Test & Exhibition Series against japan. Major Dhyan Chand - the wizard of Indian Hockey greatly appreciated the Karnataka Players for their outstanding performance. The National Championship at Jaipur in 1962 saw six Karnataka players chosen to tour Malaysia. This was the third successive win in the National Championship for Karnataka. Every player of the team worked tirelessly with perfect co-ordination in the team. The team played with constructive moves and each player at the right spot to give the other a helping hand. It was a treat for the spectators and public to watch the Karnataka girls play. Players were not concerned about other issues and nothing held them back in the true spirit of sportsmanship, while enjoying every minute of play.

Captain of the Karnataka and Indian Team for 8 consecutive years was Elura Britto, eldest of the 3 Britto sisters, was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1966. It is the highest award for Women's Hockey by the Government of India, Ministry of H.R.D. Today, Elura has been appointed as a National Selector for Women's Hockey.

Coaching of the Karnataka Team at the early stages was by Alan McBride ( a former State player, and a player for HAL ), while coaching during the later stages was continued by V.V. Naidu, NIS & International coach & Impire - a hard taskmaster and disciplinarian who spared no pains to achieve a high standard of Hockey, ably assisted by late Jani Sait brother of late S.M. Sait - former Secretary of the Karnataka State Men's Hockey Association & Technical Advisor of Karnataka State Women's Hockey Association (KSWHA); also by V.J. D'Cruze a former player who deals more with the Technical aspects of Hockey. Presently V.J. D'Cruze is Jt. Secretary of the KSWHA. After 1967 - 1968, when most players migrated or leeft for some reason or the other, Women's Hockey standard at Bangalore took a sea of changes, as happens in many other departments and has remained at a standstill. Presently, the Karnataka State Women's Hockey Association however with stalwarts like V.J. D'Cruze - Jt. Secretary, Marie Narayan - Vice President, Elvera Britto - President, are trying to revive Hockey to it's former level. Its a challenge and miles to go ahead, but with the motto 'Try and you will succeed', success will dawn someday soon for the Karnataka State Women's Hockey Association.