Only two Scots have been selected as first choice squad members in the GB hockey squad for Beijing.

Inverleith forward Stephen Dick and Loughborough based goalkeeper Ali McGregor will join the men’s squad of 16, the rest of whom play for England.

Kelburne’s Niall Stott will travel as a first reserve, as will Glasgow Western teenager Laura Bartlett in the women’s squad.

There were no places for Scotland captain Graham Moodie, who played at the Athens Olympics in 2004, nor is there room for Mark Ralph, who featured in many of the warm-up squads.

The men’s squad is the same 16 players who were responsible for securing their place in Beijing at the qualifying tournament in Chile earlier this year and have, according to Head Coach Jason Lee “shown that they are able to perform excellently under pressure.” 

Moodie left the squad early in Chile after failing to sufficiently recover from a hamstring injury.

12 of the selected players for the women’s squad were part of England’s team when they secured Olympic qualification on behalf of Great Britain by winning the bronze medal at the 2007 EuroHockey Nations Championships in Manchester last August. 

Both squads will only be taking one goalkeeper to the Olympics, which is good news for Alistair McGregor, but it meant Scotland’s Abi Walker’s slim chances of selection were all but dashed.

Selection has been a tough task for both Head Coaches, with Lee commenting “Selection is always a difficult time, but it has been exceptionally difficult this time as all of the players competing for a position have put in exceptional effort during this phase, and I think they all deserve to go to the Olympics, but of course there is only a limited number who can.”

MEN’S SQUAD

Richard Alexander (Surbiton & England) Position: MID
Jon Bleby (Loughborough Students & England) Position: DEF
Jonty Clarke (Reading & England) Position: FOR
Matt Daly (Surbiton & England) Position: FOR
Stephen Dick (Inverleith & Scotland) Position: FOR
Ben Hawes (Surbiton & England) Position: DEF
Ashley Jackson (East Grinstead & England) Position: MID/FOR
Glenn Kirkham (East Grinstead & England) Position: MID
Richard Mantell (Reading & England) Position: DEF
Simon Mantell (Reading & England) Position: FOR
Ben Marsden (Surbiton & England) Position: DEF
Alistair McGregor (Loughborough Students & Scotland) Position: GK
Barry Middleton (HGC & England) Position: FOR
Rob Moore (Surbiton & England) Position: FOR
James Tindall (Surbiton & England) Position: FOR
Alastair Wilson (Beeston & England) Position: FOR/DEF

Travelling reserves:
Niall Stott (Kelburne & Scotland) Position: FOR/DEF
James Fair (Cannock & England) Position: GK

WOMEN’S SQUAD

Jennie Bimson (Leicester & England) Position: MID
Mel Clewlow (Canterbury & England) Position: DEF
Charlotte Craddock (Cannock & England) Position: DEF
Crista Cullen (Leicester & England) Position: DEF
Alex Danson (Slough & England) Position: FOR
Jo Ellis  (Ipswich & England) Position: MID/FOR
Jo Ellis (Bowdon Hightown & England) Position: FOR
Anne Panter (Leicester & England) Position: DEF/MID
Helen Richardson (Leicester & England) Position: DEF
Chloe Rogers (Chelmsford & England) Position: MID/FOR
Beth Storry (SCHC & England) Position: GK
Sarah Thomas (Rotterdam & Wales) Position: MID/FOR
Rachel Walker (Olton & England) Position: MID
Kate Walsh (Slough & England) Position: DEF
Lisa Wooding (Chelmsford & England) Position: DEF/MID
Lucilla Wright (Olton & WW & England) Position: MID

Travelling reserves

Laura Bartlett (Milne Craig Western & Scotland) Position: MID
Katy Roberts (Chelmsford & England) Position: GK