Eight new players have been added to the GB Hockey women’s programme for the Paris Olympic cycle, including twin sisters Olivia and Sophie Hamilton.
Holly Hunt, Sophie Hamilton, Alex Malzer have previously won GB international caps, while Sophie’s sister Olivia, Darcy Bourne and Lily Walker, goalkeeper Miriam Pritchard, who has two England caps, and Jen Eadie, who has 70 international caps for Scotland, also join the GB programme.
The 20-year-old Hamilton sisters both attended King’s Bruton School in Somerset, and were part of the successful University of Bath women’s squad that won promotion to the Women’s Hockey League during the 2016-17 season, their first with the club.
The eight players offically joined the women’s programme this week.
The Talent Confirmation process is still ongoing, with GB Hockey stating that more athletes could be added across the men’s and women’s programmes this month.
Women’s head coach David Ralph said: “Jen, Holly and Miriam’s performances in the GB EDP programme and the recent Talent Confirmation camps were really impressive, and I know that all three of them have been working towards this opportunity for a number of years now, so I am delighted that they now have an opportunity to join the squad.
“Darcy, Lily, Alex, Sophie and Liv all really excelled through the recent England U21 programme and I hope that this opportunity makes up for their disappointment in the postponement for the recent Junior World Cup in December.
Ed Barney, Great Britain Hockey’s performance director, added: “Whilst there will be the inevitable bumps and challenges along the road, we feel incredibly well placed with an enviable group of exceptionally talented players in the men’s and women’s senior international squads.
“The quality that these young women will bring will only further the women’s group and what they can achieve over the summer – both on and off the pitch – that is clear to see already.”
GB Hockey will make an “informed decision” as the men’s talent group is narrowed before final selections are made.
This year will largely focus on England with the World Cup and Commonwealth Games, but the new additions are set for a GB training camp to Spain scheduled this month.
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