Talented teen’s star on the rise
The good news keeps coming for young Albany hockey star Tallulah Gouldthorp after finding out her latest State selection, this time in the under-18 women’s team.
That joy was matched just a couple of days later by the release of the national indoor hockey teams by Hockey Australia, in which the North Albany product was named to be part of an under-18 women’s training camp.
The 15-year-old dominated at the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival in January, scoring nine goals in the under-15 and under-18 competitions, helping her earn a place at the three-day training camp in October.
Gouldthorp represented WA in outdoor hockey teams on four previous occasions but set her sights on breaking into the under-18 squad in her first attempt.
Former Albany resident Karel Cronje will also play at the national under-18 hockey championships.
Now playing for UWA in Perth, Cronje was named in the WA under-18 boys’ side to compete at the championships in Tasmania from April 9-17.
After three trials, Gouldthorp was delighted to receive the news she had made the under-18 girls’ State team.
“It had definitely been a goal and is a good step,” she said.
“It’s the start of getting to the seniors.
“They were pretty quick in telling us; usually they make you wait awhile, which leaves you a little nervous.”
The older indoor hockey squads get to compete in a World Cup every four years but the under-18s is purely a development and training camp.
Gouldthorp, who plays in the Lower Great Southern Hockey Association, said the State 18s commitment meant trips to Perth twice a week for training, with the heavy travel having an impact on her school studies.
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