England Hockey HiPAC

Olly Church and George Wilkinson have been selected to represent the Pennine Pumas boys U15 team at the forthcoming England Hockey HiPAC being hosted at the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall in Shropshire. This three day high performance camp brings together the best 64 young hockey players from across the whole country in each of the U15 and U17 age groups to train under the watchful eye of England Hockey international coaching staff. The boys can look forward to the delights of snacking on carbohydrate gels, taking ice baths after exercise sessions as well as attending the same sport science lectures presented to international players.

Having been through a rigorous 60 hours of assessments that started in May, the selection sessions have included fitness drills, skills exercises and match play. George and Olly have now been identified as being amongst the best 8 young players for their respective positions within the U15 across the whole country.

Olly only started playing hockey in September 2008. Having attended the first England Hockey Junior Development Centre to be hosted at Chester Hockey Club, he progressed through the West Cheshire and Wirral Junior Academy before gaining a place at the North West Junior Regional Performance Centre in May 2009. He plays in goal for King’s U14, U15 and U16 teams and for the Chester Hockey Club U15’s side.

George has developed through the Cheshire schools and youth side and been coached at Chester Hockey youth training on Sunday mornings. George has captained his county side and has recently started to play for the Chester Hockey club senior teams.

We wish the boys well in their future ambitions playing for England!