U18 Girls join Ulster Hockey League

Such has been the success of the ladies player development in the club over the past 18 months, that a Newry Olympic girls Under 18 team has been entered in the Ulster Hockey League for 2021-22 for the first time.

Primarily through the determined efforts of our Ladies Coach Brian Lockhart, the numbers turning up regularly at training have steadily increased, to the extent that a second ladies team was needed to give everyone some game time.

Thinking of the future and what the best approach would be to continue to develop players and the younger teams, it was decided to enter a team in the U18 league.  This strategy compliments the decision taken by the Youth Development Team led by Colin Henning, to also enter a girls team in the Ulster Hockey Under 15 league for the first time this season.

The U18 league consists of ten teams split into three regional groups. Newry have been paired with Armagh and Tullyvallen in Group 2. Each team will play each other twice in the group matches, followed by crossover games against the other groups at the end of the season.  Group 1 consists of Coleraine, Ballymoney and Ballymena. Group 3 has Ballynahinch, Belfast Harlequins, Lisnagarvey and Pegasus.

Dates for matches have still to be confirmed, but it will certainly be an exciting time for the girls and we wish them all the very best for the season!