How Maggie survived double lung transplant to represent England once more

But now after a successful double lung transplant she is getting ready to represent England at the Women’s World Golf Croquet Championships in Egypt later this month in an able-bodied competition.

Mrs Cowman, 59, from Knaresborough, played cricket for both the England U25 and the full England team and enjoyed playing badminton, tennis and hockey on a regular basis. But in 2005 she was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a chronic condition that affected her lungs leaving her struggling for breath and which meant she was no longer able to take part in any sport or get involved with coaching.

Mrs Cowman, who now chairs a British Lung Foundation support group in Harrogate, said: “Everything was such an effort. I used to do the housework one room a day and the sweat was just pouring off me. Its so hard to describe it was no life. I wasn’t living any more.”

Her condition meant she had to use an electric buggy just to get around both inside and outside her house. In July 2010, Mrs Cowman, who worked as a police officer before she became ill, underwent a double lung transplant which allowed her to rekindle her interest in sport.

A friend introduced her to a croquet club in Ripon, and she has qualified for the Women’s World Golf Croquet Championships in Egypt, where she will represent England. It will be her first ever world championships, which are for able-bodied competitors and is not aimed at those who have had a transplant.

In golf croquet, a hoop is won by the first ball to go through each hoop. Unlike association croquet, there are no additional turns for hitting other balls.