Ladies 2017 Awards Nominations

Rebecca van Berkel
Rebecca has played in practically every game for the L1s in the past 3 years. She is part of the leadership team and has been a mentor to the young defenders around her, showing maturity and leadership despite being young herself. Her presence in defence has been a threat to many oppositions. She has also been a key member of the indoor team scoring from many short corners. This award is to recognise her leadership and her consistency in playing and attitude to the team.

Emma Thomas:
Emma has been at the club for 12 years and Captain of the Ladies 1s for the past seven years. Her dedication and commitment to the club and the team is unquestionable. She puts every ounce of effort into her training and matches and there is rarely a tackle or an interception that goes past her. Emma leads by example and there has been many a time when finishing a night shift she has turned up to play

Georgia Wright
Georgia has played for every team from the 2s down this season and has been a true ‘club’ player stepping in and doubling up most weeks even for away games. She has kept many clean sheets and has been a key part of the 2as defence – helping them to achieve their high position in the league.

Grace Mitchell
Grace started the season as a great utility player, always turning up to training but with no fixed position on the pitch. She moved around the team as needed but eventually settled into the defence as a half back. An opportunity came up to play centre back when a teammate was absent and Grace came into her own, commanding the position, her play stepped up to the next level. Grace is now first choice on the team sheet, she is utterly reliable and her communication skills have developed enormously.

Helen Ritchie
For continued outstanding individual play and contribution to coaching and development of her team mates. Helen has shared her experience and playing knowledge and has made a huge difference to the success of the first year of South hockey for the Ladies 2s!

Anthea Mills
A stalwart in her position as centre mid in the team, a position she plays with aplomb and is the first name on the teamsheet. Also, has stepped in to captain with ease when I have been unavailable and has the full support, respect and backing of the team.

Katie Goddard
Katie has remained a positive influence and a force to be reckoned with within the 1As team throughout the season. She continues to make fantastic saves game on game and has kept us ‘in it’ a number of times. We’re lucky to have her!

Freya Bull
Freya is a player to watch out for, she has left senior GB players standing with her speed and skill in defence. Over the past few years she has been a key member of the defence, learning every game and training session. Her commitment to the team, tackling and putting herself on the line to defend her goal is second to none. She has been part of the GB squads as has been seen as ‘this girl can’. She has grown and developed in all ways over the year and is a fun lady to be around who always has a smile on her face.

Krishna Patel
Krishna had made huge steps forward into senior hockey. This season has seen her go from a sure fire substitute to a confident starter who runs her socks off playing inner, the best tracker back in the squad.

Lizzie Smith
Having not played much ladies hockey previously Lizzie made the transition into South hockey look remarkably easy. She soon started to control and manage the defensive line with her confidence noticeably growing every game. Lizzie won player of the match numerous times (was actually the 2s player of the year), often making crucial saves that kept the 2s in the match and ultimately meant they took points away from the game.

Abigail Miller
Abi has been a key member of the ladies 3as and has hugely contributed to their promotion this year. She has made incredible saves on a regular basis and has often won player of the match. She has worked really hard at training which has shown on a Saturday.

Harriet Kay
Harriet is the only player to have played all league games in the 3s this season. Her speed is legendary and she is developing very well as a forward.

Lucy Dawson
Lucy is new to ladies hockey this year. Her fabulous attitude and approach to the game has seen her become one of the core 3s players. Lucy is now developing her play into different positions on the pitch.

India Shakespeare
India made the step up after Christmas from the 2s to the 1As and has become a solid 1As team member and has really come out of her shell both on and off the pitch. Throughout the season she has been committed to training and matches for both the Ladies section and the Girls U16s team, always making every effort to attend, and with a smile on her face.

Sharon Watt
Sharon is in her second season at Reading having joined through back to hockey. She has grown into her defensive role and has become more confident and self assured as the season has progressed. Being very fit she regularly manages a full 70 mins on the pitch and takes no prisoners when clearing out from defence.

Jess Minshull-Beech
Jess had been a regular player for the 1A’s until she turned up to the Ladies Indoor Training, and from there her selection in the Indoor team, for which she played with maturity and had a big impact. Her subsequent selection for the Ladies 1s team was rarely in doubt. She has improved game after game and demonstrated her ability to learn and develop her skills, and puts every effort into the training and games. She has matured over the second half of the season into an impressive young player.

Manmeet Saundh – Mani has come up through the teams at reading hockey club and really came into her own this year. Using her skill and speed to leave many defenders standing her individual play has improved hugely. She has become a core player for the 2s and her communication skills have also developed massively.

Sarah Iken
Sarah started the season with little confidence in her ability on the pitch , throughout the season she has grown in confidence and become one of our strongest half backs , showing amazing strength in defence and confidence, also being able to read the game well

Katie Milton
Joined the club this year with no previous hockey playing experience - “My mate Lily told me to play hockey. I can do athletics, does that help?”. She is now a key member of the Ladies 3s and has also picked up the role of team social sec. Katie is a great ambassador for the development team!

Judith Ross
Has been the South manager this year which has been a massive help to the organisation of the South Performance Squad. Has also been Vice Captain of the Ladies 2s again this year alongside running and Captaining the Ladies Masters squad. Judith is a huge asset to the club and we are very lucky to have her!

Janice Westacott
Janice has been a member of Reading hockey club for years. She plays through the pain of her rheumatoid arthritis and is a stalwart in defence. She knows how the team works and is the first to offer to "step down" when we have had too many players.

Liv Lamb
This year Liv generously stepped up to help captain the ladies 4s. With a very large number of players ranging from Back to Hockey players, colts new into ladies hockey to those more experienced, getting a team together is no easy task! Liv has managed this group of ladies so well and has also gained confidence in her own hockey knowledge.

Karen Atkinson
Karen has been a key member to 2 ladies teams this year. She has been a great support to the ladies 4s captain, passing on her playing and tactical experience as well as being a fantastic defender. She has also improved her own skills and has stepped up to be an important part of the 3as defence.

Shannon Ross
Shannon has become a regular coach on Thursday evenings, and Saturdays whenever possible, for the Ladies section. She also continues to get involved with club events and is an all round good egg when it comes to needing an extra pair of hands.

Anna Gutierrez
Anna made a big jump into the 1As team after Christmas this season, and has continued to improve throughout the months that followed. She has done incredibly well progressing from playing colts hockey to becoming a solid ladies player. She takes on advice and always plays with great intent and we look forward to watching her progress next season.

Ladies 2s
Despite losing 9 players from the team that was promoted last year the 2s put in a very strong performance in their first year in South hockey. With only 3 players in the whole squad having any experience playing at this level the step up was massive. They worked hard at training to adapt to the speed and tactical level of the game.

Ladies 3as
Despite many changes at the beginning of the season these ladies have fought really hard in every match – right up until the very last game of the season - and have achieved promotion from their league. They also created a really great social atmosphere while still maintaining league winning hockey!