Welsh hockey prospect Beth Wood has won a major award to mark her ability and passion for the sport.
The Christ College Brecon product won the Youth and Girls 18-and-under award from the Hockey Writers’ Club at its annual prize giving.
Wood, who also plays for Cardiff & Met HC, collected her award, sponsored by the Higgins Group, at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London.
The judging panel sought information from coaches, clubs and schools, with the judges considering not just hockey ability but players’ personal qualities and potential for future development.
Past winners of Higgins awards include Rio Olympic Games gold medalists Maddie Hinch and Sophie Bray.
Chris Marriott, Christ College coach, said: “Beth plays her school hockey at Christ College Brecon in Mid-Wales, which despite being a small school with only 350 pupils has in the past four years won no fewer than 10 national school titles.
“Beth has been instrumental in helping the school win back-to-back U18 Girls titles and scored the decisive penalty in the shoot-out in last season’s final.
“Beth has also been a core member of the Wales U18 Girls team for a number of years and has helped them win medals and promotions at European championship tournaments. Her hard work and dedication recently led to her selection to the Wales Senior Women’s squad and a first senior appearance in a Test match v Scotland in October.
“Her passion for the game is incredibly infectious and with the captain of hockey at school, she has helped to create an amazing atmosphere in the 1s.
“Coming from a passionate and committed hockey family, she has recently started to share her knowledge and experience by coaching at camps during school holidays.
“She does not shout about her success or her ability, and just cracks on in an unassuming, humble manner. This is a huge part of what makes her so worthy of recognition.”
England’s Ellis Robson, who also plays for Cardiff & Met, won the Junior, Boys 16 and under award.
Walid Abdo, Head Coach for Cardiff & Met HC, said: “Since joining Cardiff & Met, Ellis has been nothing short of impressive.
“I am really enjoying playing a part in the next stage of his development. He’s technically very good, physically fit, tactically sound and has a real mental strength to take him to the next level.”
