05 January 2025
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Hockey: New look England side announced for Investec Challenge

January 21, 2025

It’s a new look England Women’s hockey squad that will be travelling to Cape Town next month for the Investec Challenge, with only two of the London 2012 bronze medal winning team on the list.

For eight of the 18 strong squad, it will be their first taste of senior international competition. The week long tournament at the Hartleyvale Stadium will see England line up against Olympic gold medallists the Netherlands, Australia and hosts South Africa.

Laura Unsworth (pictured), who will co-captain the side, and Nicola White will be the only familiar names from the Olympic squad. Their experience will be bolstered by Pinoke’s Beckie Herbert – who is three international caps short of a century - and experienced Reading pair Susie Gilbert and Sam Quek, the second co-captain.

While goalkeepers Maddie Hinch of Leicester and Kirsty Mackay of Bowdon Hightown, and Canterbury pair Dilly Newton and Susannah Townsend were all involved in the Great Britain training squad leading up to last summer’s Olympics.

Four of the newcomers have made the step up from the successful England U21 women’s squad that won the bronze medal at the Junior EuroHockey Nations Championships last year. Loughborough Students’ Giselle Ansley, Surbiton’s Sarah Haycroft, Leicester’s Jo Hunter and Clifton’s Joanna Leigh all play their club hockey in the Investec Women’s Hockey League and were part of the side that overcame Germany in their last game for the Under 21s in August.

Beeston pair Hollie Webb and Ellie Watton, University of Durham’s Steph Elliot, former University of Birmingham athlete Sophie Bray and Lauren Turner of HDM (Netherlands), formerly of Leicester, make up the 18.

England will face the hosts South Africa in their opening match on Monday 4 February before taking on the Dutch the following evening. An ‘ashes’ clash with Australia rounds off England’s group matches on Thursday 7th, with semi finals and medal matches following.

Investec Challenge Fixtures

Monday 4 February

18:00 local time - 16:00 GMT - Australia v Netherlands

20:00 local time - 18:00 GMT - South Africa v England

Tuesday 5 February

18:00 local time - 16:00 GMT - Netherlands v England

20:00 local time - 18:00 GMT - South Africa v Australia

Wednesday 6 February - Rest Day

Thursday 7 February

18:00 local time - 16:00 GMT - Australia v England

20:00 local time - 18:00 GMT - South Africa v Netherlands

Friday 8 February - Rest Day

Saturday 9 February

15:00 local time - 13:00 GMT - Semi Final 1: 1st v 4th

17:00 local time - 15:00 GMT - Semi Final 2: 2nd v 3rd

Sunday 10 February

12:00 local time - 10:00 GMT - Bronze medal match

14:00 local time - 12:00 GMT - Gold medal match

 

Full squad list

Giselle Ansley (Loughborough Students)

Sophie Bray (MOP (NED))

Steph Elliott (University of Durham)

Susie Gilbert (co-capt) (Reading)

Sarah Haycroft (Surbiton)

Beckie Herbert (Pinoke (NED))

Maddie Hinch (GK) (Leicester)

Jo Hunter (Leicester)

Jo Leigh (Clifton)

Kirsty Mackay (GK) (Bowdon)

Dilly Newton (Canterbury)

Sam Quek (Reading)

Susannah Townsend (Canterbury)

Lauren Turner (HDM (NED))

Laura Unsworth (co-capt) (Loughborough Students)

Nic White (Leicester)

Ellie Watton (Beeston)

Hollie Webb (Beeston)

 

Sportsister, The Women’s Sports Magazine

Image credit: Ady Kerry

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