GOLD FOR JESS
Congratulations to Jess Hickman on her gold medal performance with England at Inverclyde, Scotland in late July when England took the Home Internationals title beating Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
Wales were first up and England won 5-3. The Irish were dispatched 1-0 before a comprehensive 4-0 win over Scotland. Jess started on the bench in the first two matches but was on from the start against the Scots. The international season has certainly provided Jess with plenty of learning opportunities and we can be sure that her extra confidence will show in her club performances on the coming season.
Holly Payne's international season is not quite over yet. The England U18 international has been picked for the England side at the UK School Games in Wales for matches against Wales, Scotland and Ulster. The event starts on 2nd September and England will defend a title won last year by a side that included Lauren Turner and Lucy Dawkings from Leicester. Good luck to Hollly.
Before that 5 of our girls will be in Amstelveen, Holland contesting the prestigious European Championship with a top four place a must for World Championship qualification. England's pool ought to see them reach the semis. They face Russia, the tough Dutch side and then Azerbaijan in what could be the decisive encounter. Leicester provides 5 of the England squad: Chloe Rogers, Beckie Herbert, Kerry Williams, Katie Long and a recalled Hannah MacLeod. Good luck to them all in the event which begins on 22nd August and commiserations to Gemma Darrington who just missed out.
Finally, you may have seen the Twitter but special congratulations to Lauren Turner and Abi Harper who can both be very proud of their performances in finishing 4th in the Junior World Cup in Boston. Unbeaten until the semis they lost to a last minute extra time goal to Argentina and then went down 2-1 to Korea, the defending champions, in the bronze medal match, in a game in which they had more than enough chances to win. Fourth is England's best ever finish so well done to both of them.