Joke Hoekstra

Before she started speed skating she was, like her older sister Coba Hoekstra, an established korfball player in Friesland. She started speed skating when she was 18 years old, after her sister had already won some speed skating prizes. Her first competition was on 4 January 1946 in Udehorne. In the winter of 1946–47 she won a total of 18 prizes of which 7 first prizes. That winter she finished second at the Dutch national championship, Frisian Championships and the championships of Groningen.[1] Her main rival was Ike Nienhuis.[1][3][4] After finishing second at the Dutch National Kortebaan Speed Skating Championships, she was honored in Siegerswoude, together with her sister who finished third.[5] During the winter of 1948–49 she was less successful, but again finished second at the Frisian Championships. [1] Hoekstra won the 1950 Frisian Championships ahead of Ike Nienhuis.[6]

(Incomplete)

1946–47

1st – 25 December 1946 in Kortezwaag (ahead of Lien van der Mei and Ike Nienhuis) [7]

1st – 29 January 1947 in Nuis-Niebert (ahead of H. Kooiker and Grietje Oosterhuis)[8]

1st – 6 February 1947 in IJlst (ahead of Frieda Wieringa)[9]

1947–48

1st – 24 February 1948 in Tolberd (ahead of Lientje Talens and Jeltje Bouma)[10]

1st – 25 January 1950 in Paterswolde (ahead of Bertha Pauwels and Geertje Visser)[11][12]

1949–50

1st – 26 January 1950 in Wijckel (ahead of Jette Hartstra and Ietje Tjalma)[13]

1st – 30 January 1950 in Beetgumermolen (ahead of Anneke Nauta and Coba Hoekstra)[14]

Hoekstra was born in 1927. Her parents were farmers. Her sister was Coba Hoekstra.[3] In the early 1950s Hoekstra married with Van den Brug[15] Van den Brug also played korfball and they became a couple when she was 15 years old. Van den Brug had a car company, a family company. Van den Brug-Hoekstra helped growing the business; now called “Van den Brug Groep” with 300 employees in 2018. They retired in 1991. Tjeerd van den Brug died 12 May 2013. Van den Brug-Hoekstra died on 14 January 2018, aged 90.[2]