Gunson is originally from Northland, New Zealand. In 1974 she graduated from the University of Otago with a Diploma in Physical Education. She also gained a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Waikato. Between 1995 and 1999 she also worked as a lecturer at Waikato. She has also worked as a secondary teacher and as director of the Waikato Institute for Leisure and Sport.[1][2]
Playing career
New Zealand
Between 1974 and 1985 Gunson made 70 senior appearances for New Zealand. She made her senior debut on 15 October 1974 against Singapore. She first captained New Zealand in 1974 during a tour of England while still aged 21. She became the permanent captain in 1978 at the age of 24. She subsequently captained New Zealand at the 1979 World Netball Championships, when New Zealand shared the title with Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, and at the 1983 World Netball Championships when New Zealand finished as runners-up to Australia. She continued to captain New Zealand until she retired as a player. She made her final appearance for New Zealand in the 1985 World Games final as New Zealand defeated Australia 39–37 to win the inaugural title. Her teammates while playing for New Zealand included, among others, Rita Fatialofa, Margaret Forsyth, Yvonne Willering and Waimarama Taumaunu.[3][4][5]
Between 1999 and 2008 Gunson served as head coach and/or director of netball for Team Bath. She initially arrived at the University of Bath to study for a doctorate. During the Super Cup era, she guided Team Bath to the 2004 title. As director of netball she subsequently oversaw Team Bath as they won the inaugural Netball Superleague title in 2005–06 and then retain it in 2006–07. During her time with Team Bath she helped mentor the next generation of English netball coaches, including Tamsin Greenway and Jess Thirlby. In 2015 Gunson was inducted into the University of Bath/Team Bath Hall of Fame for Sport. In 2019 Team Bath renamed the trophy awarded to the winners of their pre-season tournament after Gunson.[14][15][16][17]Saracens Mavericks subsequently won the inaugural Lyn Gunson Trophy.[18][19]
In 2008 Gunson returned to New Zealand where she remained involved with netball. Between 2008 and 2011 she served as director of netball for Netball North Harbour. She later worked as a Coaching Consultant at the New Zealand Academy of Sport North Island.[2][24][25]
