Elliot Bullman who has just won a Silver Medal for GB U21s team in Malaysia - see text below. Thanks
Elliot Bullman, ex Wilmslow Hockey Club 1st team goalkeeper, has just won a silver medal playing for Great Britain U21s in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia.
After all the round robin matches Great Britain were undefeated, beating India 2-0, Pakistan 5-0, Malaysia 3-2, Australia 5-l and New Zealand 3-0. Elliot got pitch time in both the wins over Pakistan and Australia to win two GB U21 Caps.
In the final on Sunday 19th October, Great Britain faced a rejuvenated India team with full internationals in their ranks. Great Britain went a goal behind but equalised in the second half from a well taken penalty corner. Unfortunately, with less than 45 seconds on the clock a penalty corner was awarded to India who converted it with clinical aplomb to take the Gold medal 2-1.
Whilst the team was immediately disappointed at failing at the final hurdle and ruing missed chances and penalty corners to have won the match handsomely, a silver medal was a tremendous achievement against 5 top world class sides and was the very least that the team deserved. The standard of hockey that they played was sensational at times and they made many, many friends both on and off the pitch.
Elliot was delighted to have been given match time and to claim two caps at the highest level - the No 1 Keeper Harry Gibson turned 21 last March and now leaves the gloves and kickers to his young pretender Elliot Bullman who, at 18, has potentially 3 years of international U21 hockey to look forward to.
With continued hard work in training, working with both GB and England Hockey's Development Programme as well as being offered Kingston University's Sports Performance Programme's highest award for young athletes who have exceptional potential, I'm sure that we have not heard the last of him.
Guest post by Martin Stocker.
