Saskia, age 15 and currently in Year 10, is one of 32 girls from across the country who has been selected to join the 2019/20 U16 England Hockey National Squad.

She will now embark on a rigorous programme, which involves training and competitions throughout the year at locations both across the UK and overseas.

Since joining Redmaids’ High School at the age of 10, Saskia has represented the school in many national competitions.

In 2015 she was part of an U11 team that achieved joint third place in the National Independent Association of Prep Schools Competition and crowned Regional Champions.

In 2017, she was part of an U13 team that won the Smile Independent Schools Hockey Cup and she received ‘Player of the Tournament’ – despite being the youngest member of the squad. This squad also finished third place in the England Hockey National Championships. 

The following year, she and her teammates were runners up in the same national competition where Saskia was awarded 'Player of the Tournament' for the second year.

Outside school, Saskia has been playing for Clifton Ladies Hockey Club since she was seven years old and currently plays for the 2nd team in the National Investec Conference West. Saskia has also played a major part in the junior section, where she has competed in numerous finals including two U14 National finals finishing in third place in consecutive years and also was part of the team for the U16s Indoor Finals last year. 

Right behind her is mum Jackie Lawrence, herself a specialist Hockey Coach at Redmaids’ High School. “The next year is a really important one for Saskia”, she commented “as she works towards selection for the England matches against opposition such as Holland, USA and Belgium.”

Speaking of her success, Claire Maggs, Director of Sport at Redmaids’ High School said, “We are all absolutely delighted for Saskia. She is completely passionate about the game, and has the technical skill as well as the mental determination to go the whole way.”