With only days to go before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Australia, a Beeston midfielder has received the exciting news of a full call up to the Welsh squad for the tournament.
Caro Hulme, who was selected as a travelling reserve for the tournament, has now been called up into the squad for the competition after a broken thumb injury to compatriot Danni Jordan ruled her out of the event at the Gold Coast. Hulme, who has been an important component of the Beeston side which recently won the Investec National Conference North title has had a remarkable couple of weeks in which she has come into the squad very much on the outside rails. Having been part of the broader Welsh training group but never invited to play in a match this season, she was called in as a replacement for one of the travelling reserves with only a week or two to go until the event, and now she has made the full squad with the late injury to Jordan.
Wales Women’s Head Coach Kevin Johnson commented “Caro will earn her first senior Wales cap here in the first match against India, alongside fellow 18-year-old debutant Izzy Howell. It is positive for the future of Welsh women’s Hockey to see two young players line up for their first caps in the Commonwealth Games. I’m sure Caro will learn so much from the experience and the opportunity she has now been offered as she embarks on her senior international career after coming through our national age-group programme.”
Beeston Manager Chris Glover was also delighted, saying “Caro thoroughly deserves this opportunity after delivering some consistently excellent performances for Beeston. For some this might seem a left field selection given that she did not go to their selection training camp in January, but she has had some issues with injury earlier on in the year which really hampered her chances of making the initial squad and training group. Since Christmas though, her level of performance at club level has been brilliant and neither Colin Clarke (Beeston Head Coach) nor I are surprised that she has now had some international recognition. It will be a wonderful experience for her to play in a major multi-sport tournament and we are proud of her achievement in making the competition and wish her and Wales all the best.”
Caro will join up with fellow Bee Nicki Cochrane (Scotland) playing in the women’s competition along with Beeston’s male contingent of Adam Dixon, Ollie Willars, Mark Gleghorne and Sam Ward who will be representing England.
The tournament starts on later this week and you can see the Bee’s in action in Australia at the following times (all times BST):
Thursday
00:32 – India v WALES (Women) – Caro Hulme
02:32 – SCOTLAND v New Zealand (Women) – Nicki Cochrane
Friday
00:32 – ENGLAND v Malaysia (Men) – Dixon, Willars, Gleghorne & Ward
Categories: Beeston Hockey Club
