Hockey: Honours for Olympic pair

JANE SIXSMITH and Rob Hill, Great Britain's leading goalscorers in the Olympic Games in Barcelona, were yesterday named as the 1992 Norwich Union United Kingdom Players of the Year by the Hockey Writers' Club.

They were presented with their awards at a reception at Birmingham City's Council House by the first winners, 10 years ago, Margaret Gleghorne from the Pegasus Club, Belfast, and Slough's Paul Barber, both former Great Britain players. Barber was a member of the team which won a gold medal in Seoul.

In addition to their Olympic triumphs both played prominent parts in the successes of their clubs. Sixsmith, a 25-year-old Sports Development Officer with Birmingham City Council with 140 international appearances, last year led Sutton Coldfield to victory in the European Cup-Winners' Cup in the Netherlands, to a semi-final place in the All England Women's Hockey Association Cup, and to fourth place in the First Division of the National League.

Hill, a 25-year-old Somerset farmer, is a tough, resolute defender and penalty corner specialist, now with Firebrands, who played an important role in Havant winning their second successive PizzaExpress National League title last season. His recall to the Great Britain side in the run-up to the Olympics also paid dividends with 16 goals in his 19 subsequent appearances.

Hampstead and Westminster, held to a 2-2 draw by Old Whitgiftians at the weekend, allowed Maidenhead, 1-0 winners at Eastcote with a goal from the Malawian international, Francois Toussaint, to take over the leadership in the A Division of the Peroni South Premier League.

City of Portsmouth, held to a goalless draw at Winchester, stay at the top of the B Division but Gore Court, 1-0 winners against Old Bordenians, move alongside them but with an inferior goal difference. Redbridge and Ilford maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier Division of the Norwich Union East League with a 5-1 win over Ford, with John Nicholson scoring three times and goals from Mark Menear and Derek Foley.

SCOTLAND SQUAD (for Intercontinental Cup play-off v Malaysia, Cairo, next month): A Seaton, C Hector (both Old Loughtonians), P Mellor, D Low (capt), D McFarlane (all Grange), J Cox (Menzieshill), P Doney, A Milne, C Wood (all Gordonians) D Fowler, G Moore, M Starling (all Kelburne), A Sword (Montrouge), G Shepherd (Torbrex Wanderers), R Philip (Western), M Zander (East Grinstead).