My name is Georgia and I am a Year 8 Blackheath High School Sports Scholar. I have been attending Blackheath since Nursery and have had many sporting opportunities in that time. I was delighted to be awarded a ‘Sports Rising Star’ Award in Year 6 and, following trials, a sports scholarship. I have fully embraced the support and mentorship provided by the Director of Sport, Miss Morrell; she has given me the drive and determination to achieve my sporting goals. We meet as a Sport Scholar group for additional training sessions weekly for strength and conditioning, and we have a mentor program.   

My primary sport is hockey - I will take any opportunity I can to play, watch or be involved and when I met Olympian Kate Richardson-Walsh at Festival of Sport this summer I was completely starstruck! I was recently awarded ‘Hockey Player of the Year’ at the school annual sports awards. I represented Greenwich (on behalf of Greenwich Schools) and captained the team at the London Youth Games in June. I play both Indoor and Field Hockey competitively for Knole Park Hockey Club outside school and I’m advancing through the U13 England Hockey Development Centre County trials thanks to nominations from both Blackheath High School and my club. I am also striving to achieve selection for the wider GDST community hockey team. 

Over the summer holidays I was lucky enough to attend an MT13 Hockey Residential Camp for a (dream!) week of non-stop hockey. There were 85 like-minded players from all over the UK, who like me wanted the opportunity to develop as a player and continue to learn new skills. I was over the moon to be awarded with ‘Player of the Camp’ and bag some Adidas merchandise. 

Alongside school netball, I also play club netball with Beacons locally, recently gaining a place in their U13 Development Squad, so I’m looking forward to playing more competitively in a league. School provides netball tour opportunities which include: a trip to Condover Hall in Y6 and Y8 (sadly due to covid I missed out in Year 6, but can’t wait for the opportunity this year!) in addition to a Netball tour to Disneyland Paris over the Easter holidays. 

The GDST host sports scholar days, bringing together sports scholars across the network, and these have given me the opportunity to meet and attend masterclasses with sporting legends; and listen to inspirational lectures from female athletes who have dominated in the face of adversity.