Hockey captain set to call time on career

Kate was studying at JMU before hockey gave her the chance to play at the Olympics  Pics: fihockey.org

After leading England’s hockey team to their second victory so far in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, former JMU student Kate Walsh is hoping to improve on past medal success, having secured bronze and silver in previous games.

In an exclusive interview with JMU Journalism, Kate has also revealed that the London 2012 Olympics will be her last. “We’ll be aiming for gold and it’d be great to finish on a high,” said the 32 year old. “I think I’ll be taking a break from hockey as it consumes your whole life. I’d never say never to a return though."

Kate left a four-year teaching course after just one year to play in the Sydney Olympics for Great Britain in 2000. She chose to leave the university permanently to play hockey full-time. She said: “It’s absolutely amazing playing for your country, going out as a team and all feeling that same pride. It’s brilliant.”

Kate will be feeling that same pride again in Delhi as the team bid to
reach the podium, after 4-1 wins against Canada and Wales for England
so far. Following recent speculation over the state of the athletes’ village,
on the eve of flying out to India Kate said the team was optimistic about
conditions after receiving daily updates from a hockey director.
 
Before becoming an international hockey player, Kate grew up in sport
surroundings in South Manchester where both her parents were
P.E. teachers. She competed in swimming for Stockport Metro but gave
it all up aged 11 to play hockey.

She credits both her parents Barbara and John Walsh for their
encouragement and dedication to her hockey career: “My Dad used to
drive me twice a week from Stockport to Formby for my
one-and-a-half-hour training for Hightown.”

It seems hockey runs in the family as younger sister Rachel also played
for the England team alongside Kate and now plays abroad for Amsterdam in the Dutch premier league. Kate insists there is no rivalry between the two sisters: “We’re both very different players. Rachel’s very skilful and plays in a different position to my defensive one.”

Kate added that her brother-in-law Taeke Taekema has also shown support through emails and messages, despite playing for the Netherlands, who are not present at the Commonwealth Games.

England face New Zealand on Friday hoping to continue their winning run and their quest for gold.