Reading Hockey club’s six of the best. From left: Beth Storry, Kate Walsh, Laura Bartlett, Emily Maguire, Alex Danson and Helen Richardson
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Hockey hero Beth Storry thanks Bulmershe
August 15, 2012
Olympic hockey heroine Beth Storry has thanked her teachers at Bulmershe School and Sonning-based Reading Hockey Club for helping her win the bronze medal.
Earley-born Beth, goalkeeper for Great Britain’s hockey team, said she ‘couldn’t have done it without them’.
Beth was one of six Reading players in the GB team that lost to eventual silver medallists Argentina in the semi-final.
And she said: “I owe a lot to the school, especially Mr Wickens and Miss Leesom who coached me, then all those who helped me at the club and then all those involved with England and GB.
“We would all liked to have won the gold medal, but we are still very happy with the bronze.”
The 34-year-old added the experience was “absolutely incredible” but is looking forward to switching off and tucking into some cake.
Beth, whose parents Celia and Malcolm still live in Earley although she lives in Marlow, said the team used the disappointment of going out in the semi-finals to spur them on to win bronze with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand.
“We were devastated after the semi-final – we wanted to get to the final and we believed we were good enough to get there.
“We said to each other ‘we’re not coming away without a medal’.”
Beth added: “Walking out on to the pitch to be presented with our medals, it was just incredible.
“Our medals were presented after the Holland vs Argentina game [the final] but we still got so much applause from the fans.”
Since the game on Friday the team have been busy with media engagements.
She said: “The whole experience has been absolutely incredible. Everyone has been lovely and it’s been so well organised.
“We’ve got a great team, we all get on with each other really well.
“The media and stuff has been a real whirlwind.
“It’s fantastic but it’s been a bit crazy.”
This was Beth’s second Olympics but it is the first time she, or any of the other women on the hockey team, have won a medal.
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