Tuesday 24 February 2015 The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has a triple chance of success at the England Hockey National Schools Championships for Girls this week, with teams having won through in all three age categories. GSAL has reached the national finals of this competition for the second year running, having made their debut at the event last year with both the U16 and U14 teams competing. This year the U18s join the two younger teams as finalists, one of only two schools to achieve a full complement of teams across all three age groups. The girls will follow in the footsteps of the world’s top hockey players when they take to the pitch at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, hockey’s Olympic legacy venue at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It is the first time the schools finals have been played at this prestigious venue. At the finals eight schools will compete in each age group, having won through to the national final after playing a series of county and regional rounds. GSAL’s U18 team earned their place by winning a play-off match after the north regional round, while the U14 and U16 won through as north regional champions. Many of the players also play hockey at a high level outside school, as members of England Hockey’s Junior Performance talent development programmes, or with local clubs. The U18s can also lay claim to an England player – Katie Birch, lower sixth, has been selected for the U18 England squad. GSAL’s acting head of hockey Charlotte Glass said: “This success in the national competition shows how hockey is flourishing across all age groups at GSAL. The players are very committed and enthusiastic, devoting a lot of time to training in and out of school which brings real depth to our teams at GSAL.” General Senior School Sixth Form News
