Holcombe players Nick Bandurak and Lottie Bingham enjoy success at Hockey Writers’ Club Awards in London.

In a remarkable testament to his skill and dedication, Nick Bandurak, the luminary of Great Britain and England Hockey, has been honoured with the Player of the Year 2023 award by the Hockey Writers’ Club. This year’s recognition is particularly historic as Bandurak becomes the first player to win this prestigious award for three consecutive years.

Beyond this accolade, Bandurak’s contributions to both the Great Britain and England hockey teams have been nothing short of extraordinary. He has amassed an impressive total of 57 caps and scored a staggering 43 goals. His phenomenal performance has been a cornerstone in the teams’ successes, significantly contributing to their qualification for the upcoming Paris Olympics this summer.

Bandurak’s journey in international hockey has been marked by consistent excellence and an unwavering commitment to the sport. His ability to perform under pressure and deliver results has made him an invaluable asset to his teams. His goal-scoring prowess and tactical acumen on the field have not only won him individual accolades but have also propelled his teams to new heights on the international stage.

Speaking about the award Bandurak said, “It’s such a huge honour to win the Hockey Writers’ Club UK Men’s Player of the Year Award for 2023. To have my name alongside such a prestigious group through the history of British Hockey is humbling and something I will never take for granted.

“I’ve been lucky enough to join the program at a really exciting time for Men’s hockey in the UK and I’m looking forward to seeing the levels to which this Great Britain squad can take it in the coming year and beyond.” he continued.

Currently playing for Holcombe in Kent, Bandurak’s leadership and skill continue to inspire both his club and country. The Hockey Writers’ Club, in recognising Bandurak’s outstanding contribution for the third year running, highlights the significant impact he has had on hockey in Great Britain and the world.

As Bandurak gears up for the Paris Olympics, his legacy as one of the sports deadliest finishers continues to grow. His remarkable achievements are a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes and a matter of pride for British and English hockey.

Bingham also won the Hockey Writers’ Club Youth Award, awarded annually to the male and female, under 18 & 16, for an outstanding contribution to hockey within their club and school environment, voted by the HWC Committee from nominations by clubs and schools.

She was the youngest member of England’s under-21s squad that secured a fourth-placed finish at the Junior World Cup in Chile in December and also formed a key part of our women’s indoor team that won promotion to the Super 6s Premier Division in January.

Bingham has scored four Division One South goals for Holcombe since joining from Knole Park in the summer and will hope to add to her tally in the coming weeks as Bandurak’s side look for an immediate return to the Premier Division.

Lottie began her hockey career at St Michael’s prep school and Sevenoaks HC where she was part of the team who won the U12 national title. She was captain of the Weald Grammar School team who were crowned U13 national school champions in 2019.

She then moved to HC Knole Park and her performances over four seasons helped the club win U16 indoor and outdoor national titles and become U18 indoor national champions last season.

Lottie played for the U16’s for two seasons and was part of the U18 squad which came fourth in the U18 European Championships in Dusseldorf last summer.

At 17, she was also the youngest member of England’s U21 squad at the Junior World Cup in Chile.

She transferred to Holcombe for senior hockey this season and was part of the indoor Holcombe team who got promoted to the Premier Division.

England Hockey coaches said: “Lottie contributes more to hockey than just her performances on field, a state school player, she inspires the future with her mentoring of younger athletes within her club environment. Lottie is a great role model showing what perseverance and hard work can achieve.”

Images: Hockey Writers’ Club

Bandurak pictured at last year’s awards, while Bingham and Lucas Ball received the award on his behalf earlier this afternoon.