Hockey silver medal for Abigail in the 2011 Futures Cup

Abigail Barton has just won a silver medal in a national hockey competition organised by the England Hockey Board. Abigail’s team, the Pennine Pumas, were runners-up in the 2011 Futures Cup, which allows the England Hockey Board to get a look at the best young players in the country.  

The Pennine Pumas represent the north of England region which stretches from Manchester and Durham to Leeds.

Abigail was selected for the team after playing at county level when she was talent-spotted for the junior regional performance camp and then selected to play at the regional performance centre in Leeds. The best players from all three North performance centres were then chosen to play in the Pennine Pumas in the Futures Cup which is where the best players are selected for England trials.

The Futures Cup is an important step in the development process for talented young players aspiring to achieve selection for the England U16 and U18 squads.

Speaking about her role in the team’s success, Abigail, aged 15 and in Year 11 at Hull Collegiate School said, “The competition was a very high standard and the girls I was playing against were amazing. Everyone was very nervous in the build-up to the game but my nerves went away as soon as I started playing.  As the goal keeper I only let in two goals out of the whole of the competition and I was thrilled that our team came second. This is the best result in the history of the Pennine Pumas. At school I play in the first team for hockey and I coach the Year 7s at the school’s summer hockey camp as well as during the school year.” 

 

 U16 Girls Final Standings

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Saxon Tigers	3	2	0	1	7	2	5	6
2	Pennine Pumas	3	1	1	1	6	6	0	4
3	Mercia Lynx	3	1	1	1	5	6	-1	4
4	Wessex Leopards	3	1	0	2	2	6	-4	3