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Scotland

The waiting game is over for Scotland’s Junior Women as Scottish Hockey announce the 18-strong squad to travel to Chile for the Junior World Cup in September. Scotland last qualified for the tournament in 1993 with a team that featured current U21 Assistant Coach Susan Gilmour plus double Olympian Rhona Simpson. That team finished 11th and the current squad aim to improve on that performance.

The squad named today is an exciting mix of youth and experience as the management team can now call upon the services of a number of players who had been involved in the U18 programme. Aisling Coyle (Kelburne), Nikki Kidd (Bonagrass Grove), Kim MacGregor (Grange), and keeper Claire Ritchie (Dundee Wanderers) bring with them valuable international experience following their gold medal performance in the European Youth Trophy in Lithuania. Also named in the squad are three players who are making their mark in the senior women’s squad and will shortly head off to Dublin for the European Championships. Aimee Clark (Hightown), Cat Forrest and Holly Cram (both Glasgow En-Croute Western) will join the programme in time for the squad’s trip to Germany in late August. There the Scots will play three matches against the German Junior Women plus an additional match against German Club Ruesselsheimer RK. These fixtures will provide the final squad with important match play experience before they go to Chile.

The Scots claimed their place in the competition by reaching the semi finals in the Junior European Championships in Dublin last year. A superb run of form saw them beat Spain and Ireland and narrowly lose out to the Netherlands in their group matches. A single goal defeat to Germany in the semi finals earned them a 3 /4 play off against England but it proved to be one match too many and they were unable to secure a medal. However, their performance was noted by their peers and there was no disputing their claim on a place in Chile.


The squad has prepared well for the tournament combining training weekends with fixtures against international opposition, including Germany and most recently, England. That preparation should stand them in good stead in the group stage as they have drawn title holders Korea, 2001 silver medallists Argentina, plus Belarus who are making their first appearance in the competition. Coach Keith Joss is quietly confident about Scotland’s prospects; "As we now approach the business end of our programme I am pleased with the progress we have made, and continue to make. Selection of the final squad was a difficult task with several players narrowly missing out. Looking forward to the World Cup we know that our performances are heading in the right direction, and the management team are sure that we will peak at just the right time."


Scotland’s first match will be against reigning champions Korea on 14 September.


Scotland’s Squad for the Junior World Cup, Santiago, Chile


Bonagrass Grove

Alison Bell, 5 September 1984, 23 Junior Caps, 2 Senior Caps

Leigh Fawcett, 10 January 1986, 16 Junior Caps

Nikki Kidd, 14 August 1987


Dundee Wanderers

Claire Ritchie, 18 Feb 1987


Edinburgh Hockey Club

Susan Hamilton, 1 April 1986, 4 Junior Caps

Lee Pendreigh, 23 April 1986, 19 Junior Caps


Edinburgh University

Katie Mackay, 28 September 1985, 4 Junior Caps


Glasgow En-Croute Western

Holly Cram, 30/04/1984, 26 Junior Caps, 9 Senior Caps

Catriona Forrest, 27/02/1984, 21 Junior Caps, 9 Senior Caps

Kirsty Nolan, 9 December 1986, 17 Junior Caps

Clare Scott, 7 May 1985, 5 Junior Caps

Nicole Scott, 11 July 1984, 4 Junior Caps


Grange Edinburgh Ladies

Karen MacGregor, 19 July 1985

Kim MacGregor, 13 June 1987

Catherine Rae, 10/02/1985, 18 Junior Caps


Hightown

Aimee Clark, 02/07/1985, 17 Junior Caps, 4 Senior Caps


Kelburne

Ailsing Coyle, 5 December 1987, 2 Junior Caps

Laura Wrightson, 11 July 1984, 26 Junior Caps


Management Team

Manager: Alan Bryce

Stand-in Manager: Alan Lindsay

Team Leader: Dave Stott

Coach: Keith Joss

Assistant Coach: Susan Gilmour

Physiotherapist: Leisel Lippstreu


Reserves

Edinburgh University

Kim Christison, 25 March 1985


Giffnock

Kareena Marshall, 27 January 1987


Glasgow En-Croute Western

Laura Bartlett, 22/06/1988, 2 Junior Caps


GHK

Amy Gibson, 13 July 1989 (GK)


Melrose

Rosanna Innes, 04/01/1988, 2 Junior Caps


Schedule

Wednesday 14 September, 1600, Korea v Scotland

Thursday 15 September, 1600, Scotland v Argentina

Friday 16 September – Rest Day

Saturday 17 September, 1700, Belarus v Scotland

Results in these matches determine future matches in the Tournament.


Notes to Editors


BDO Women's Junior World Cup

The BDO women's Junior World Cup will take place from September 14 to 25 at the Club Deportivo Manquehue in Santiago, Chile. The tournament is held every four years, the first being held in Canada in 1989 where Germany took the title. The current World Junior Champions are Korea. This year Australia, Argentina, Belarus, Canada, China, England, Spain, Germany, India, Korea, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, United States, South Africa, Scotland and Chile will participate in the event. http://www.mundialhockeychile.cl/eng_index.htm

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