Surbiton Hockey Club youngster Ellie de Heer was crowned the Hockey Writers’ Club’s U16 girls’ player of the year last week and hopes to follow in the footsteps of a former winner of the award.
The Kingston Grammar School student was honoured over lunch at the Royal Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, where clubmate Charlotte Calnan also picked up the award for U18 girls’ player of year.
Surbiton's Lottie Ross and Hollie Munro were runners-up in the U16 and U18 categories, respectively.
Sugden Road skipper Sarah Haycroft, an ex-Kingston Grammar School student, won the youth award in 2009 en route to becoming a full England international.
Honoured: Kingston Grammar School student Ellie de Heer with her award at the Royal Yacht Club in Knightsbridge
De Heer has played alongside the 24-year-old in three Women’s Hockey League Premier Division games this season, having helped Surbiton’s U16 girls to back-to-back national titles.
And the Hampton-based England U18s international wants to match Haycroft’s on-field achievements.
“I got nominated at the end of last year, which was a surprise in itself, but to win it was amazing,” said the 16-year-old.
“It is really nice to be acknowledged for something you love to do.
“Sarah Haycroft is a bit of an inspiration and it would be nice to follow in her footsteps one day.
“I played in the first two Premier League games this season and the last one before Christmas and that was great.
“Even just to train with players like Sarah is amazing because we have such a strong squad filled with international players, you learn so much."
De Heer hopes she can use the second half of the outdoor league season to force her way into Surbiton head coach Brett Garrard’s plans for the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup in May.
The defence of Surbiton's league title resumes – after the winter break – with a trip to the University of Birmingham on February 6.
“I want to play as many games as I can and hopefully be part of the squad for Europe,” she added.
“Even if I am not part of it, it is great just to have played with those players.”
Surbiton’s U16 boys were crowned Super Sixes National Indoor Championship champions on Sunday after beating Marlow 4-1 in the final in Wolverhampton.
The club’s U16 girls could not repeat the trick as they lost 4-3 to Beeston in their final at the same venue.
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