International Hockey

Building on London 2012:: England captain Kate WalshLONDON, February 26 - London has been selected to host a women’s hockey World League semi-final in June.

Alongside England, Olympic silver medallists Argentina, Australia and China all gain automatic qualification to the round, given their top eight ranking.

The remaining four women’s teams will be decided following the completion of the World League Round 2 in Brazil in March.

Scotland & Great Britain Goalkeeper Abi Walker has announced her retirement from international hockeyScotland and Great Britain international goalkeeper Abi Walker has announced her retirement from international hockey with immediate effect. 

Commenting on her decision to retire, Walker said, “Following the Olympics in London, I have returned to work and my career is now my number one priority. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow represents a huge opportunity for our young and exciting team and the team will enter full-time training to prepare for it. I have come to the decision that I will not be able to match that commitment.

Ben Hawes announces retirement - hockeyimages.co.ukFive members of the England and Great Britain hockey squads have today announced their retirements from international hockey. From the women’s squad, goalkeeper Beth Storry and penalty corner specialist Crista Cullen, both of whom won Olympic bronze at London 2012, have ended their international careers. And from the men’s squad, triple Olympian Ben Hawes, double Olympian Mark Pearn and Ken Forbes have announced their retirements from the very top level of the sport.

New challenge: Jason Lee. will take charge of the England women's hockey side - photo: Ady KerryLONDON, February 4 - Jason Lee has been appointed head coach of the England women’s team, but will not take up his role until his former position as men's head coach is filled.

Lee, 42, who has led the England and Great Britain men’s hockey teams as head coach for three Olympic cycles, will then take the women's side on as far as Rio 2016.

England Hockey decided not to reappoint Lee for the 2013-2016 men's cycle. This followed a fourth-place finish at the London 2012 Games.

But Lee was identified as the best candidate for the women's post when his application was compared with applicants from across the globe.

Marsha Marescia: Don't be fooled by results in 'unofficial' testsCAPE TOWN, February 3 - Marsha Marescia, the co-captain of the Investec South African women’s hockey team, said on Sunday that not too much can be read into the results of the unofficial internationals leading into the Investec Challenge, which starts at Hartleyvale Stadium in Cape Town on Monday night.

“Those matches were performance-driven rather than results-driven, whereas from Monday when we play our first Investec Challenge match [against England at 8 pm] the outcome will be very important,” said the 302-times capped Marescia, who will lead the team alongside Lenise Marais.

The Investec Challenge will see world number one and London 2012 Olympic Games gold medallists The Netherlands, world number four and London 2012 bronze medallists England (as Great Britain), world number six Australia and world number 11 South Africa playing each other in a round-robin format before next Saturday’s semi-finals and next Sunday’s medal matches.

Co-captain: Laura Unsworth - hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, January 24 - England have named eight uncapped players and just two members of the GB London 2012 bronze-medal winning side in their squad for the Investec Challenge in South Africa.

Laura Unsworth and Nicola White are the two 2012 Olympican with further experience coming from Pinoke’s Beckie Herbert – three international caps short of a century - and Reading pair Susie Gilbert and Sam Quek

Of the other athletes selected, goalkeepers Maddie Hinch of Leicester and Kirsty Mackay of Bowdon Hightown, and Canterbury pair Dilly Newton and Susannah Townsend were involved in the Great Britain training squad leading up to last summer’s Olympics.

Fourth win:: Barry Middleton has won yet another UK player of the year award - Photo: hockeyimages.co.ukLONDON, January 22 - Barry Middleton and Kate Walshwere named named the UK players of the year for  following the annual poll conducted amongst British members of the Hockey Writers’ Club

Kate Walsh suffered a horrendous injury in the closing minutes of GB’s Olympic game against Japan when she suffered a broken jaw but returned to captain her team in their important game against China six days later.

New challenges: England/Great Britain's performance director Danny Kerry. Photo: Ady Kerry-England HockeyLONDON, December 12 -Danny Kerry has been appointed as England Hockey's new performance director.

The 42-year-old, who guided Great Britain women to bronze-medal success at the London 2012 Olympic Games, will start his new role in January.

Kerry had been the head coach of the England and Great Britain women’s hockey teams since 2004. He succeeds David Faulkner who stepped down as performance director after almost eight years in the role.

"My new role in performance sport represents significant but exciting challenges for me. Hockey has undergone a lengthy period of change since I began as head coach," Kerry said.