As the flood waters recede and the sun has finally decided to grace us with its heavenly warmth, spring is in full bloom. Hockey season has already kicked off with an impressive start. The Hockey schedule is full to the brim of matches and major events stretching as far as August 2015 when the Euro Hockey Championships are set to take place in the Olympic Park.
This 9 day event will consist of 300 players from 10 different nations and expected to draw in up to 630,000 spectators. What better event to showcase how the London 2012 Hockey legacy has progressed since the games of summer 2012.
The Hockey nation participation programme is already in full swing, ensuring the Euro Hockey Championships in London are set to be a real triumph for England Hockey.
Before I go into all the forthcoming hockey matches and squad news, I wanted to take a step back and share with you the remarkable journey strength and dedication to the sport of one of my favourite England women players Helen Richardson-Walsh. Who is currently recovering from major surgery to her back for the second time since June 2013.
Helen Richardson-Walsh born on the 21st September 1981, in Hitchin Hertfordshire. She grew up in sporting environment with her three older brothers. By the age of 7 she had already joined her local Hockey Club West Bridgford HC, it was obvious even at this very young age she was born to play Hockey. At a mere 17 years old her talent was spotted and she was signed up with England Hockey on the 21st July 1999, her professional Hockey journey began and she was ready to make her debut against Japan as a midfielder wearing the No8 shirt.
Helen has grown from strength to strength, her passion and unfaltering dedication for hockey has been rewarded her with an impressive haul of medals over the last 14 years. Staring with a Championship Challenge Gold Medal in Johannesburg 2001 and ending 2012 with highlight of her hockey career with a Bonze a Medal in London Olympics in front of her home crowd. With 16 medals, numerous domestic trophies, personal accolades and 249 Caps, 29 Goals to her name Helen is certainly amongst one of the England Women Hockey’s greatest players of our time.
Helen’s injuries first took hold back in 2003 after an ankle injury. Later in the year her Peroneal Tendon in her ankle ruptured an injury which most commonly occurs in individuals who participate in sports that involve repetitive ankle motion. Her first major back surgery came just as she was set to play in the Investec World League games in Chiswick last June. She posted an article in her local paper on the Nottingham Post on 22nd June 2013, explaining her injury,
“The Investec World League starts today in Chiswick and the challenge I set myself 11 weeks ago was to be fit enough to compete in that tournament.
Following back surgery, where I had bits of my ruptured disc removed, it was always going to be a tall order and unfortunately the tournament has just come a few weeks too soon for me, I’m therefore gutted to report I won’t be playing.
My disappointment is by no means due to a lack of effort; I gave it absolutely everything I had. The nature of my injury, though, left me with some nerve damage down my leg, and nerves, unfortunately need nothing more than time, something I didn’t really have”
Sadly once again within 11 months the same injury had returned on the 1st March 2013, she was booked in to have her second major back surgery after the disc that sits between lower 4th and 5th vertebrae which had been prolapsed for the last 8 years literally ruptured. Breaking off into tiny fragments around her spinal cord, pressing down on her spin causing numbness in her legs. Understandably this left Helen in excruciating pain and very often in floods of tears. Suddenly the realisation that her Hockey career could be over hit her. However after some confusion with the doctors, Helen was advised this was the same back injury and surgery would alleviate the pain, with total rest and physio she should make a full recovery.
Within less than a week of major back surgery Helen is up and walking. The numbness has gone and the pain is easing off too. Her fast recovery is testament to her strong will power and courage. Despite having undergone two lots of back surgery she by no means is ready to hang up her Hockey stick yet. She is determined to be fit enough to compete in the Robank Hockey World Cup based in at The Hague, Netherlands from the 31st May to 15th June 2014. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan then the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which are set to take place from 23rd July to 3rd August 2014. The allure of playing in-front of a home crowd and reliving some of the electric atmosphere of the London 2012 Olympics is just too enticing for many of our sporting hero’s including Helen.
After a long relationship Helen and Kate Walsh the captain of Team GB women’s squad, tied the knot on the 14th September 2013 in Henley on Thames. Kate popped the question earlier in the year. They received a huge influx of congratulations messages from the sporting world and England Hockey. I wanted to know Helen’s personal views on this subject and how the Hockey world treated the news of her forthcoming marriage to Kate, “We received a very positive response from the Hockey World and every sports person we spoke to. We were lucky Hockey is a sport that is both open minded and accepting no matter what your personal life choices may be. Following the announcement we also received many positive messages from people we did not even know, saying how much our news has helped them to be brave enough to be honest about their relationships too!”
What was once seen as the taboo subject of gay marriage and relationships, people around the world called for change. One by one the world’s leading nations starting to listen to the pleas of its people and the long overdue change in legislation has finally been embraced. In February 2014 Scotland became the 17th Country to legalise same sex marriage with the state of Illinois, USA following shortly after in March 2014.
Helen knows only too well from past experience the amount of training and hard work it takes to qualify and compete for the World Cup. I wanted to know her view on whether the England Women’s squad was ready for such a major event? “We have built a good foundation to work from, since the London 2012 Olympics. Over the last 2 years since the games, yes quite a few members of the squad have retired which is only natural in any sport. However with so much new talent joining the squad, we have already proven by beating the top teams Holland and Argentina that we have what it takes to be champions and win Gold”
If rumours are to believed to be true, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are set to the best the world has seen in many years. What better way to highlight how Hockey has progressed since the Olympic Games in readiness for the Euro Hockey Championships in 2015 and the pinnacle of the sporting world the Rio 2016 Olympics. Where the England women have vowed to win that Olympic Gold Medal that only just missed their grasp during the London 2012 Olympics. Which left Helen and her team mates heartbroken, yet even more determined never to let the chance of Olympic Gold pass them by again.
Whilst Helen was unable to play in the Investec World League Hockey games last summer she was given the opportunity to still take part by been given the opportunity to commentate on the games for Sky Sports. As Helen rightfully put it “As one door closes, another one opens!” The England Women had a score to settle; with Kate Walsh as their Captain they fulfilled their promise to their fans on beating their Olympic rivals Argentina. It was an honour to be part of England Hockey’s media team and witness this truly momentous occasion.
As Saturday was International Women’s day I would like to add Helen’s name to that list of world class inspirational women and wish her a speedy recovery.
So finally I know by now all you die hard Hockey fans will be itching to get your pens and diaries out courtesy of England Hockey, I will now share with you the forthcoming Major Hockey Schedule for 2014 up and until the Women’s World Cup in 2018. Of course the list is subject to change for any events still to be confirmed so keep an eye out for any changes. Tickets are selling fast for the mayor events so please do book early, as I know from personal experience the events are sell out quick.
Further info & tickets can be booked by clicking on the following link:
http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/page.asp?section=1601
EVENTS
NOW: Pensions Men’s League Finals Weekend
Reading HC, 5-6 April 2014
NOW: Pensions Nations Cup
Reading HC, 10 April 2014
Investec Women’s League Finals Weekend
Reading HC, 12-13 April 2014
Rabobank Hockey World Cup
The Hague, Netherlands
31 May – 15 June 2014
Investec London Cup
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, London, 9-13 July 2014
Commonwealth Games
Glasgow
23 July – 03 August 2014
Club Weekend
Sept 2014
Details TBC
Start of 2014/15 domestic season
Sept 2014
Champions Trophy
Women’s, 29 Nov – 7 Dec 2014
Men’s, 13-21 Dec 2014
EuroHockey 2015
London, 21-30 August 2015
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre
Champions Trophy
June 2016
World League Semi Final 2 – Men
July 2017
Women’s World Cup 2018
London, 7-21 July
Nikki Gill - Freelance Sports Writer 