ENGLAND CALL UP FOR OVERLAND

Wisbech Town HC Ladies first team defender Laura Overland has been selected by the England Womens Over-45 team for the upcoming World Masters Hockey (WMH) World Cup in South Africa in October. 

Laura is part of an 18-woman squad for the tournament, which takes place in Cape Town from October 1st to October 10th 2022, with the England team set to fly out at the end of September in order to prepare for the tournament. Laura attended three trials for the England team, with the squad cut down to a preliminary group of 23, before the final 18 participants were selected following the fourth and final trial earlier this month.

“It’s a huge privilege to be selected to play for my country, after years of hard work and dedication to the sport I love,” Laura said. “I never actually thought that I would get to represent England when I first picked up a hockey stick, but I am thrilled to have been selected for the World Cup in October. It promises to be a fantastic experience.”.

The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in 2020, but was delayed twice due to the pandemic. The England Womens Over-45 team claimed silver at the 2018 WMH World Cup tournament in Barcelona and Terrassa, with Netherlands taking gold, and Russia Bronze. The full schedule for the 2022 tournament is still to be announced by WMH.

As well as the Over-45s Mens and Womens WMH World Cup tournaments, Cape Town will also be hosting the Over-50 and Over-55 tournaments in early October, with older age groups scheduled to travel to Japan at the end of October. The Over-35 and Over-40 competitions take place in Nottingham in August. 

Full details of all international tournaments involving the England Mens and Womens teams can be found on the England Hockey website here.

Laura is sponsored by Commercial Safety Systems Ltd.