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Ripon hockey star selected to represent England at World Cup

Thursday, 27 November 2025 12:59

Local hockey star Minnie Pollock.

A local hockey star has been selected to represent England at the U21 Women's Hockey World Cup.

Minnie Pollock, from Ripon, has been named in the England U21 Women’s Hockey Team for the upcoming FIH Women’s Junior World Cup.

It starts in Santiago, Chile, next week and will run from 1st–13th December.

Minnie, who currently plays for the University of Nottingham, is part of a competitive squad selected to represent England at one of the most prestigious tournaments in junior hockey.

Her call-up follows a strong record of performances at domestic, university and age-group international level.

Minnie first picked up a hockey stick at Thirsk Hockey Club, and her interest in the sport grew steadily during her years at Cundall Manor School.

Staff there recall both her enthusiasm and her involvement across several sports.

Head of Girls’ Sport, Lou Bessey, said:

“We are incredibly proud of Minnie’s achievements. She represented Cundall in a variety of disciplines — from the ISA Swimming Finals in the Olympic pool in London to winning at Loretto Hockey Tournaments and helping the U15s reach the U16 National Finals.

“It was fantastic to watch her skills develop.”

During her time at Cundall, Pollock progressed rapidly through the England Hockey performance pathway.

She gained selection for the County squad, the Talent Academy, and later the England U13 Lions and England U16 National Age Group Squads — all before the age of 14.

Her journey has since been followed by current Cundall pupil Alistair Broadwith, now part of the England U16 set-up, along with two other pupils currently playing in the Sheffield Talent Academy squad.

After completing her A levels at Repton School, Pollock continued her hockey development in the United States with the University of Virginia, representing the Virginia Cavaliers Field Hockey Team.

She has since returned to the UK and is studying International Media and Communications at the University of Nottingham while continuing to compete at an elite level.

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