Twelve stars of Kent Hockey will be heading to Rio as part of the men’s and women’s Team GB squads.
The British Olympic Association has today named the men’s and women’s hockey squads who will compete for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Canterbury’s Susannah Townsend is named in the women’s squad alongside Holcombe’s Maddie Hinch, Sam Quek, Shona McCallin and Nicola White.
Eight of the women’s team who won bronze at London 2012 return with Hannah MacLeod, Georgie Twigg, Laura Unsworth and White all included while Crista Cullen, Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh and Alex Danson are set for their third Games appearance.
The rest of the 16-strong squad are set for their first Olympic experience, however all have plenty of pedigree after helping England claim European Championship gold in London last year.
For the men, Holcombe’s Barry Middleton will make his fourth Olympic Games appearance while team-mate Ashley Jackson returns for his third Games after appearing at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.
Nick Catlin, Dan Fox, Iain Lewers (all Holcombe) and Harry Martin also return from the squad who finished fourth in London with ten players set for their Olympic Games debuts.
They are joined in the squad by Holcombe’s George Pinner and Sam Ward.
The selected athletes are:
Women’s Squad
Giselle Ansley, 24, hometown Kingsbridge
Sophie Bray, 26, Surrey
Crista Cullen, 30, London
Alex Danson, 31, Odiham
Maddie Hinch, 27, West Chiltington (Holcombe)
Hannah Macleod, 32, Boston
Shona McCallin, 24, Newark (Holcombe)
Lily Owsley, 21, Bristol
Sam Quek, 27, Wirral (Holcombe)
Helen Richardson-Walsh, 34, West Bridgford
Kate Richardson-Walsh, 36, Stockport
Susannah Townsend, 26, Egerton (Canterbury)
Georgie Twigg, 25, Lincoln
Laura Unsworth, 28, Sutton Coldfield
Hollie Webb, 25, Belper
Nicola White, 28, Oldham (Holcombe)
Reserves:
Joanna Leigh, 23, Huddersfield
Eleanor Watton, 27, Chesterfield
Kirsty Mackay, 29, Blackpool
Men’s Squad
David Ames, 27, Cookstown
Alastair Brogdon, 28, Hale
Nicholas Catlin, 27, Marlow (Holcombe)
David Condon, 24, Leicester
Adam Dixon, 29, Nottingham
Daniel Fox, 33, Godalming (Holcombe)
Mark Gleghorne, 31, Antrim
Michael Hoare, 30, Liverpool
Ashley Jackson, 28, Tunbridge Wells (Holcombe)
Iain Lewers, 32, Belfast (Holcombe)
Harry Martin, 24, Ipswich
Barry Middleton, 32, Doncaster (Holcombe)
George Pinner, 29, Ipswich (Holcombe)
Ian Sloan, 22, Cookstown
Samuel Ward, 25, Leicester (Holcombe)
William Weir, 26, Nantwich
Reserves:
Simon Mantell, 32, Street
Dan Shingles, 30, London
James Bailey, 25, Epping
Team GB Chef de Mission, Mark England, said of the selections:
“I’m very proud to be able to welcome hockey players from both the men’s and women’s squads to Team GB today.
“In both of these sides there is a blend of Olympic experience and Olympic debutants who have come through in the last four years and who have shown they can compete at the very highest level.
“It’s great to qualify athletes in the team sports, and a tremendous spirit exists across hockey, which has developed and grown during this four year cycle. I’m sure this will stand them in good stead this summer and I’m confident that on their day they can match any team in the world.”
Sally Munday, Chief Operating Officer for Great Britain Hockey added: “I would like to congratulate all of our athletes who are on their way to Rio for this summer’s Olympic Games.”
“Our central programme is exceptionally competitive and I know how hard they have all worked to be selected. Their ambitions certainly do not end here, and I would like to wish them the very best of luck this summer.”
“I would also like to record my thanks to those who narrowly missed out – as a team sport building team unity whilst vying for selection is a challenge and the professionalism of all the players in the GB programme is exceptional.”