Great Britain picks Olympic Hockey squads

(BEIJING, June 25) -- The British Olympic Association has announced the names of the 16 men and 16 women who will be part of the British Olympic Hockey teams competing in Beijing this summer. Kate Walsh has been selected as captain of the women's squad, while the captain of the men's squad has yet to be named.

Both teams have limited Olympic experience. There are only three former Olympians in the men's squad and four in the women's squad. Ben Hawes, Barry Middleton and Rob Moore were all part of the 2004 Men's team that finished ninth at the Athens Olympics, while Mel Clewlow, Helen Richardson, Kate Walsh and Lucilla Wright all participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. One of the new additions to the women's squad is 17-year-old Charlotte Craddock, the youngest player to represent the British hockey team at the Olympics.

"I believe we will be very competitive in Beijing. Out of 20 games this year we have only lost two and confidence is high in the team," said Hawes, as reported by Worldhockey.org, "We are also a very tight knit group with the core of the team being together since the junior world cup in 2001, "

In line with the recently announced IOC rules, two additional players will be given accreditation in case of injury.

Great Britain Men's Squad:

Richard Alexander (Surbiton & England) Position: MID

Jon Bleby (Loughborough Students & England) Position: DEF

Jonty Clarke (Reading & England) Position: FOR

Matt Daly (Surbiton & England) Position: FOR

Stephen Dick (Inverleith & Scotland) Position: FOR

Ben Hawes (Surbiton & England) Position: DEF

Ashley Jackson (East Grinstead & England) Position: MID/FOR

Glenn Kirkham (East Grinstead & England) Position: MID

Richard Mantell (Reading & England) Position: DEF

Simon Mantell (Reading & England) Position: FOR

Ben Marsden (Surbiton & England) Position: DEF

Alistair McGregor (Loughborough Students & Scotland) Position: GK

Barry Middleton (HGC & England) Position: FOR

Rob Moore (Surbiton & England) Position: FOR

James Tindall (Surbiton & England) Position: FOR

Alastair Wilson (Beeston & England) Position: FOR/DEF

Travelling reserves:

Niall Stott (Kelburne & Scotland) Position: FOR/DEF

James Fair (Cannock & England) Position: GK

GB Women's Squad:

Jennie Bimson (Leicester & England) Position: MID

Mel Clewlow (Canterbury & England) Position: DEF

Charlotte Craddock (Cannock & England) Position: DEF

Crista Cullen (Leicester & England) Position: DEF

Alex Danson (Slough & England) Position: FOR

Jo Ellis (Ipswich & England) Position: MID/FOR

Jo Ellis (Bowdon Hightown & England) Position: FOR

Anne Panter (Leicester & England) Position: DEF/MID

Helen Richardson (Leicester & England) Position: DEF

Chloe Rogers (Chelmsford & England) Position: MID/FOR

Beth Storry (SCHC & England) Position: GK

Sarah Thomas (Rotterdam & Wales) Position: MID/FOR

Rachel Walker (Olton & England) Position: MID

Kate Walsh (Slough & England) Position: DEF

Lisa Wooding (Chelmsford & England) Position: DEF/MID

Lucilla Wright (Olton & WW & England) Position: MID

Travelling reserves:

Laura Bartlett (Milne Craig Western & Scotland) Position: MID

Katy Roberts (Chelmsford & England) Position: GK