Bringing State training to the South East

Clare Hopgood earns a place in national championship team

Clare Hopgood is headed north this April – the rising South Australian hockey star earning a place in the South Australian State Under 15 hockey team set to compete in Darwin at the national championships..

After working her way through the HockeySA pathways program, travelling to Naracoorte, Berri, Adelaide, and Port Pirie along the way, Clare (pictured above with HockeSA head of high performance Roel van Maastrigt for a training session at the weekend) is one of only two squad member who don’t play in the Adelaide metropolitan competition.

Her selection sets in motion seven weeks of training in Adelaide in the lead up to the tournament, meaning may hours on the road loom for Clare and her family.

State selection caps off a great 12 months for Clare. She won league best and fairest for the Lower South East Hockey Association for under 15s, and was named co-captain of the team of the year. She was also in the top five for the league in Division 2 women. She hit goals in grand finals for both those sides in club side Tigers and is also in the Limestone Coast Regional Sports Academy for hockey.

This is not the first opportunity for Clare to represent her State, making the Under 13 team in 2021 but that national championships was cancelled due to COVID.

Fellow South East player Eliza Beck was selected as a reserve for the Under 15 team, while Naracoorte’s Will Ellis is part of the boys Under 15 line-up.