Commonwealth champion Holly inspires pupils during visit

Monday 3rd October 2022

Holly Hunt delivering a hockey training session

England and Great Britain Hockey player and Old Stopfordian Holly Hunt (OS 2015) returned to Stockport Grammar School to help inspire the next generation as she led a training session for the SGS Senior and Under 13 hockey teams.

The Commonwealth Games Gold medallist imparted a variety of useful tips to help pupils improve their skills and knowledge of the game. She also spent time at the end of the session answering questions about the sport and her journey to the national team.

The visit was organised by Holly’s sponsor Grays Hockey and the retailer have offered all SGS pupils a 20% discount off their hockey products using this code: HOLLY22-20.

Speaking about the day, Holly said: “I had such a lovely time visiting Stockport Grammar with the Grays team. It was amazing to go back to the place where I first learnt how to play hockey and to see lots of familiar staff faces.

“Despite the rain, we had a great time on the pitch with the Senior First team and the U13s and I loved meeting such enthusiastic hockey players!”

Holly developed her love for hockey as a pupil at Stockport Grammar Junior School when she was just ten years old. Throughout her time at school, her love of hockey grew and she became part of the First XI team that won the Girls’ School Championships in 2015.

Talking about Holly’s time at Stockport Grammar School, Junior School teacher Mrs Helen Carroll reflected: “Holly joined my class in the Junior School in Year Five. She had never played hockey before but it was obvious, very quickly, that she had a talent. She played on my U11 team as a Year Five pupil and again in Year Six where she was captain. We had a very successful year, winning almost every match and conceding very few goals. Our highlight was coming fourth place in the country at the National U11 tournament.

“I was lucky enough to be there in London watching the First XI win the National Finals in 2015 when Holly was in Upper Sixth – my daughter was also on the team. I have since followed her career and managed to see her play during the early rounds of the Commonwealth games this summer.”