Talented Hockey Scholars Selected for GB EDP Programme 2023
Four of our Elite Dual Career Athlete Pathway (EDCAP) scholars have been selected for the highly competitive GB Elite Development Programme (EDP) 2023. This programme is designed for Hockey players who are identified as having the potential to be medal-winning Olympians, providing them with opportunities to excel and reach their full performance potential at an international level.
Evie, Millie, Betsan, Emma (from left to right) are part of our Women 1’s Hockey Club, representing the Lions at various national and international Hockey events.
We asked them a few questions about their recent success!
What aspect of the EDP Programme have you found most valuable so far?
‘I think just the experiences it gives you, so going on tournaments abroad – we had the World Cup last year which was an incredible experience. It kind of sets you up for more than just Hockey.’- Emma (reselected for the EDP)
‘For me, it’s great to keep the contact with a lot of the girls I’ve been playing with for such a long time. It’s just nice socially to go and have a good time and play at a high standard.’ – Millie (reselected for the EDP)
What part of the programme are you most looking forward to?
‘I’m most excited to meet new people and play Hockey at the highest level. Coming from a University that already provides good Hockey, I now get to try my hardest in a new environment’. – Betsan (new to the EDP)
How has the support from the EDCAP programme helped you with your goals?
‘I think we’re lucky to have such good coaches here, Chris helps so much on the pitch with sessions twice a week, then we have Mark in the gym, and then we have Nutritionists and Physiotherapists that keeps us well and taped up, so we can still be playing and training.’ | Evie (reselected for EDP)
‘It’s always flexible, at any given point you can pop in and see someone and get advice or change a session if you need to change it. So the availability of the support here is world-class.‘ | Millie
What’s the next thing you’re working towards?
‘The next big tournament is the Junior World Cup in Chile in December, and then there’s just other smaller tournaments and training camps.’- Emma
What would your advice be to anyone looking to get into Hockey?
‘I think definitely surround yourself with people who have similar objectives to you, like if you can go out there and join a team that is a standard that you aspire to be that really helps. Take a look at your life as a whole, we put in a lot of work off the pitch as well on the pitch, it doesn’t just come down to what you do on a training day or a game, it comes down to your decisions the minute you wake up to the minute you go to sleep. I guess take more of a holistic approach to it.‘- Millie
Big congratulations to our scholars on this incredible achievement. We can’t wait to see what they go on to accomplish through the programme as a result of their hard work and commitment to Hockey!
To learn more about our sport scholarships, check out our dedicated webpage.
Interested in joining a Hockey team? We have a number of opportunities for you to get involved, ranging from beginner level all the way up to competitive.
Photo credits: Eva Gilbert and Nathan Styles Porter
