Ladies fly out to Holland for EuroHockey Club Champions Cup

Slough Ladies HC fly to Holland tomorrow (Thursday) for the EuroHockey Club Champions Cup with hopes of a medal in their 11th appearance in this competition.

Slough have previously won two silver and three bronze medals and, having avoided the Germans and Spaniards in their pool, they will face their toughest opposition from the hosts ‘s-Hertogenbosch, who are favourites to take their 10th successive European title.

With only the group winners making the final, a first day win is important and on Friday Slough meet Atasport from Azebaijan, who include several Argentinians and South Koreans in their squad.

Saturday’s game with the hosts will see Slough’s Sydney Olympians renew acquaintance with former international team-mate Helen Richardson, who has been playing for the Dutch club this season.

On Monday, Slough face the Belgians Royal Antwerp, likely to be the weakest team in the group, but Slough will need to have points in the bag by then if they are to stay in medal contention.

In the other pool are the Germans Berliner HC, who beat Slough on penalties in last year’s Cup Winners Cup final, CD Terrassa from Spain, the Russians Volga Telekom and the Ukrainians Dinamo Sumchanka.