Schools hockey: Katie Robertson and Louise Baxter join forces

FIFTH year pupil Katie Robertson (Kilgraston High School) and the school’s head of physical education, Louise Baxter, have been chosen to represent Scotland at a major tournament in Switzerland this month.

The pair from the Bridge of Earn School will line up for Grove Menzieshill Club at the European Indoor Trophy Competition in Wettingen on 22-24 February.

Representing Scotland, Grove Menzieshill have been drawn in Pool B along with teams from Switzerland, France and Croatia while Pool A has sides from Ukraine, Italy, Denmark and Russia.

Kilgraston has a great hockey tradition – the Director of Sport is Pauline Stott, who earned 203 Scottish caps and captained Team GB at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Louise, a former Bell Baxter High School pupil, joined the staff at Kilgraston in 2010 and the Grove midfielder made her Scottish international debut as a teenager in 2003 at a Four Nations tournament in Canada.

The last ten years have brought a total of 104 caps while competing at four Europeans, two World Cup qualifiers and the last two Commonwealth Games.

Katie is just 16 and a member of the Scotland Under-18 women’s squad.

Pauline Stott said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for them both to play top European hockey – especially for Katie who at just 16 is showing terrific promise.

“At Kilgraston we work hard at all our sports and there’s no doubt that Katie has benefited from our specialist Hockey Academy which allows gifted athletes to develop and nurture their skills.”