Six talented young Isle of Man hockey players have been selected to represent the Northwest Talent Academy at the upcoming Talent Academy Cup, taking place from 25th to 27th July at Nottingham Hockey Centre.
Ela Blakemore and Evie Watterson will compete for the Northwest Talent Academy girls’ team, whilst Ross Grimley, Doug Quayle, Cameron Roome, and Liam Taverner have earned their places in the boys’ squad.
The sextet have dedicated themselves to an intensive training programme with the Northwest Talent Academy since October 2024, travelling regularly to the UK for coaching sessions and matches. Their commitment culminated in a final training session on Sunday, where the players and coaches battled through particularly wet conditions.
Three other Isle of Man players – Lucy Cartwright, Summer Craig, and Kyle Gunnion – also participated in the academy programme throughout the season, demonstrating the growing strength of hockey talent on the island.
The selected players and their families have shown tremendous dedication over the past nine months, with regular travel to training sessions and matches requiring significant financial commitment and time away from home. Whilst the players have benefited from some supported fares through the Isle of Man Steam Packet, families have covered accommodation, flights when necessary, kit costs, and academy fees. Isle of Man Sport has provided additional support for the players’ development.
The tournament promises to showcase some of the finest young hockey talent from across these Isles, with both boys’ and girls’ competitions running throughout the weekend.
Results and fixtures can be followed online via England Hockey’s competition portal, with supporters encouraged to track the progress of the Isle of Man contingent as they compete against other regional academies.
23 July Update: Corrected an error in the opening paragraph from “August” to “July”.