GB Women Prepare for World Championships

THE match schedule for Great Britain women’s World Championship qualifying campaign in Poland in December has been announced.

The team will travel from their training camp in Limburg, Holland, in time for their first match in Lublin on December 1, when they take on old rivals Austria at 5pm local time.

The following day they play Slovakia at 5pm again, while their December 3 match against Cyprus is a 6.45pm start.

Finally, after a day’s rest they complete their fixtures on December 5 with a 5.30pm start for their clash against the hosts Poland.

Limburg Welcomes British Handball

AHEAD of the training camp for the GB women’s team next month, British Handball’s CEO Paul Goodwin headed to Limburg in Holland last week to further strengthen ties between the two parties.

The region of Limburg in Southern Holland has produced many world champions and Olympic medalists in a host of sports, and seven times world record holder and former Olympic gold swimming medalist Ada Kok was on hand to welcome Goodwin, and Matt Shuker from British Handball’s marketing partner, Oaks Consultancy.

The meeting was part of a visit to a trade fair in Maastricht, where discussions were had with the Dutch Handball Federation and the regional sports minister, who was there to sign an agreement with Limburg to create a new National Handball Academy in the region.

“Limburg has an excellent sporting tradition and handball is up there amongst the other top sports,” said Goodwin afterwards. “It is therefore much easier to discuss handball with businesses in Limburg because they understand the potential of the sport.

“From the warmth of the reception we received and the interest in British Handball from the Limburgers, this was a successful visit and further serves to strengthen the new partnership.”

The Great Britain women’s team will be visiting Limburg next month in preparation for their World Championship qualification matches in Poland.

GB Goalkeepers Battling Injuries

GREAT Britain goalkeepers Laura Innes and Bobby White, pictured, are both struggling to overcome injury at the moment, with Innes nursing a back injury while White is battling a hip complaint.

Birmingham-based Innes, who plays for LK Zug in Switzerland, has been unable to shake off a long-term back injury and was diagnosed with two prolapsed discs.

After two weeks treatment at the British Olympic Association’s Intense Rehab Unit at Bisham Abbey, Innes returned to her club and played in the Champions League qualifying matches. But her injury had not gone away, and she has returned to Bisham Abbey for more treatment.

“There is nothing worse than being told you can't play,” she said. “It means so much to me as I enjoy it so much.

“However, I am home now to see our support staff and there are many people supporting me on the road to recovery. I have a great plan from now on in - I have had a facet joint injection (an injection into the joints in my spine) and am resting now before returning to Bisham Abbey.

“From now on it is continued hard work from me, and with a little bit of luck I should be back playing again for GB and LK Zug as soon as possible. I am already itching to be back!”

Men’s team goalkeeper Bobby White, from Milton Keynes, has also been playing through pain, but his hip injury is showing no signs of getting any batter.

He is waiting to see British Handball doctor Polly Baker for a complete diagnosis and rehab plan.

“I’m battling on, but I’m not doing much good as my movement is limited and slowing me down,” said White. “It’s not so bad when I’m fully warmed up, but just walking to the shops is giving me a lot of grief.

“I played ten minutes on Saturday and will play this Saturday, then I have three weeks off before our training camp at Crystal Palace.”