HOCKEY: Olympic call for Queen's College sports teacher (From Somerset County Gazette)

HOCKEY: Olympic call for Queen's College sports teacher

5:10pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Sport Latest

QUEEN’S College sports teacher Ian Haley has been selected to represent South Africa in the London Olympics this summer.

Haley has juggled his work at Queen’s in Taunton for five years on the sports fields and in the boarding house along with his training for Exeter University Hockey Club and country.

The striker said: “I am very grateful for the opportunity and I really appreciate how Queen’s have stood by me and helped me to get where I am now. “It’s great for the area and I am excited to fly the flag for the school.”

Haley has coached the Queen’s Under-13 boys side to become national champions.

Playing at Cannock Hockey Club where they triumphed against some very strong opposition.

Haley said: “I was very proud of the boys last month and along with this it is a great springboard for hockey at the school.”

Haley attended an intense conditioning camp at Bloemfontein over half term and was put through his paces with the rest of the South African squad. The announcement of the Olympic squad came from the South African Olympic Committee in the second half of the camp.

The 12 teams in the tournament have been based on two pools of six based on world rankings.

South Africa have been drawn against Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Pakistan and Argentina and will play each team once.

The top two teams in each pool will qualify for the semi-finals, with the winners of those matches going head-to-head for the gold medal.

The other teams in the two groups play each other to determine final placings.