British women's roster announced for Euros

Great Britain's women's team for the IWBF European Wheelchair Basketball Championships includes a healthy mix of youth and veterans. 05 Jun 2013
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A picture of women in wheelchair posing for a group picture during a wheelchair basketball match

Great Britain’s women’s wheelchair basketball team at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

ⒸLieven Coudenys
By Nate Williams | For the IPC

“It was a really tricky selection process and, after a lot of discussion, we are happy that we have selected a team that will not only be competitive, but also has the scope to develop greatly, with the future in mind."

Great Britain’s women’s women’s team has been selected for next month’s IWBF European Wheelchair Basketball Championships, which take place between 28 June-7 July in Frankfurt, Germany.

The reigning European bronze medallists travel to Germany with new head coaches Nigel Smith and Joe Jayaratne who have injected some fresh blood into the team as they hope to become a future threat.

With an average age of 24, the team includes three new faces with 14-year-old Charlotte Moore joining Sophie Carrigill (19) and Kirsty Wallace (31) in making their European Championship debut.

The roster also includes key players Louise Sugden, Helen Freeman and Laurie Williams.

Smith said he and his colleague, Joe Jayaratne, feel that the women they have chosen will be top contenders for a European medal and a place at next year’s World Championships.

“It was very tough for us to narrow the squad down to the 12 players selected, but we feel they are the best players at this moment to help us achieve success in Frankfurt,” he said in a statement released by British Wheelchair Basketball.

“We are looking forward to the European Championships as we believe that with the changes we have made over the last few months we can compete for a major medal although the tricky task of qualifying for the World Championships is never easy.”

Jayaratne added in the statement: “It was a really tricky selection process and, after a lot of discussion, we are happy that we have selected a team that will not only be competitive, but also has the scope to develop greatly, with the future in mind."

Great Britain’s women’s roster

Amy Conroy (20, Norwich)

Madeleine Thompson (18, Hope Valley, Derbyshire)

Helen Turner (35, Chobham, Surrey)

Judith Hamer (22, Exeter)

Laurie Williams (21, Altrincham, Manchester)

Sarah Grady (29, Ely, Cambridgshire)

Clare Strange (33, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire)

Sophie Carrigill (19, Wakefield)

Charlotte Moore (14, Coventry)

Kirsty Wallace (31, Fareham)

Louise Sugden (28, Wokingham)

Helen Freeman (23, Watford)