|
| Residence |
Reading, ENG |
| Occupation |
Athlete |
| Languages |
English |
| Higher education |
Sports Science - Brunel University: London, ENG |
|
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
She started playing hockey at age 11 in physical education lessons at Priestnall High School in Stockport, England. |
| Why this sport? |
Her mother played the sport. |
| Club / Team |
Reading: Reading, ENG |
| Name of coach |
Simon Letchford [club], Danny Kerry [national] |
| Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Defence |
| Handedness |
Right |
|
| Year |
1999 |
| Country |
England |
| Location |
Ireland |
|
| Nicknames |
Walshy, Walshka (Athlete, 31 Jul 2008; GB Hockey Media Guide 2008) |
| Hobbies |
Going to the cinema, listening to music, playing sport, socialising, reading and shopping for bargains. (Athlete 10 Mar 2000, World Hockey Magazine, 01 May 2006) |
| Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning a bronze medal at the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Argentina. (Athlete, 03 Jul 2011) |
| Most influential person in career |
Her parents and former Great Britain women's coach Jon Royce. (England Hockey, 14 Sep 2007; Athlete, 03 Jul 2011) |
| Hero / Idol |
British long distance runner Paula Radcliffe. (Athlete, 03 Jul 2011) |
| Injuries |
She suffered a throat injury after a ball deflected into her throat days before the World Cup qualifiers in 2006, which meant she missed the team's opening few matches of the tournament. In the World Cup later that year, she was hit across the knee cap in the match against the Netherlands and had to miss the next two matches. (BOA, 11 Aug 2009) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Feel the fear and do it anyway." (Athlete, 03 Jul 2011) |
| Awards and honours |
She was named England Hockey Writers' Club Player of the Year Award in 2003 and 2007. She was also named Great Britain Hockey's Athlete of the Year for 2007. (GB Hockey, 08 Nov 2007)
She was nominated for the International Hockey Federation's [FIH] Young Player of the Year award for 2003. (FIH, 09 Jan 2004) |
| Famous relatives |
Her sister Rachel has also played hockey for England. (GB Hockey Media Guide 2008) |
| Ambitions |
To compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (passionspeedrespect.com, 23 Aug 2010) |
| Other information |
CLOSE CALL
She suffered a freak accident during practice at the 2006 World Cup qualifying tournament in Rome, Italy, when a ball deflected in to her throat during a penalty corner routine. There were concerns she had fractured the hyoid bone in her throat and she was rushed to hospital and spent five days there in recovery. She then flew back to London to see an ear, nose and throat specialist who passed her fit to play, so she returned to Rome to join her teammates. "I had superb care in the hospital in Rome," she said. "By the time I returned to play England had already qualified, so they didn't even need me. Playing the first half was a bit difficult and it took a while to find my feet again." England won the tournament with an unbeaten record. (World Hockey Magazine, 01 May 2006) |
GBR