Women’s hockey – Edinburgh players in Gold Coast countdown

Gordon Shepherd, coach to Scotland’s women. Picture Nigel Duncan Media

Three Edinburgh University players and one from Watsonians have been named in Scotland’s 27-strong squad as the clock ticks towards selection for the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast next year.

Coach Gordon Shepherd hosts a warm-weather camp in Gran Canaria on from January 13 to February 3 and Laura Swanson, Rebecca Merchant and Amy Brodie from Edinburgh University and goalkeeper Lucy Camlin of Watsonians will be there.

Former Edinburgh University players Nicola Cochrane, Mairi Drummond and Sarah Robertson are also selected along with former Cala Edinburgh and Inverleith player Amy Costello.

Dundee-born but Glasgow-based Shepherd said he will use this camp to name the squad for the Commonwealth Games on Feburary 14.

The Scots will play Wales five times during the camp and in the Games Scotland have been drawn in Pool B against Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ghana in Australia.

Shepherd said there is real competition for places in the squad and he added: “The camp in Gran Canaria will allow the players to express themselves.

“As well as training we have five games versus Wales and I feel this is an excellent balance of training and games to maximise each player’s opportunity to be selected.”

And he added: “Every player that is going on this selection camp has the same opportunity to be selected to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.”

SQUAD: Lucy Camlin (Watsonians), Nicola Cochrane (Beeston), Amy Gibson (Reading), Kareena Cuthbert, Becky Ward, (Western Wildcats), Alison Howie, Heather Howie, Camilla Brown, Fiona Burnet, Jennifer Eadie, Fiona Bruce, Lucy Lanigan (Clydesdale Western), Karen Belch, Katie Robertson, Sarah Jamieson, Nicola Skrastin (Grove Menzieshill), Laura Swanson, Rebecca Merchant, Amy Brodie (Edinburgh University), Charlotte Watson (Dundee Wanderers), Robyn Collins (Surbiton), Sarah Robertson (Hampstead and Westminster), Amy Costello, Rebecca Condie (University of Birmingham), Kate Holmes (Clifton Robinsons), Nicola Alexander-Lloyd (Wimbledon), Mairi Drummond (Wimbledon)