Student’s accidental path to playing for Scotland

NATIONAL RECOGNITION: Fall led to switch from showjumping to hockey

An elite athlete from Freuchie who suffered a bad showjumping accident is now competing for Scotland after switching to hockey.

Katie Robertson was just 14 and in the early stages of an equestrian career that had seen her selected to compete for Great Britain in European competition when a fall knocked her unconscious for 10 minutes, during a show in Wales,.

The former Kilgraston pupil was removed from the arena out cold on a spinal board, having broken her shoulder and collar bone, and was rushed to hospital.

While she never regained the confidence to ride competitively, Katie’s decision to turn her attention to hockey yielded positive results.

Quickly progressing through the school ranks as a teenager, she made the Scotland Under-18 team aged 16 and is now competing at full international level.

The 20-year-old juggles her training schedule with studying sport and psychology at Abertay University in Dundee.

She said she refused to let the 2010 fall from her horse, Atlantic Swift, put her off pursuing a career in sport.

“I did ride a couple of times after that but I didn’t have the confidence to really go for it,” she said.

“I took up hockey because I wanted something to fill up my time, and it has just gone on from there.

“We are training just now for World League 3 in Brussels in June.

“If we reach the quarter-final stages, we qualify for the World Cup in London next year.

“It is such an honour to play for your country, and I have a tear in my eye every time I pull on the jersey and the national anthem is playing.”

Third-year student Katie, who attended Falkland Primary, is on Abertay’s Elite Athlete Development Programme.

She is completing her course parttime to allow additional training time for club and country.

The Grove Menzieshill player, who trains at Dundee International Sports Complex, hopes to stay in sport as a competitor and coach after graduating.

She said: “The support I have had here at Abertay has been incredible.

“It is fantastic to be surrounded by so many talented staff and students,” she added.

Abertay has 23 sports clubs with more than 450 members.

Its Elite Athlete Development Programme provides strength and conditioning programmes, financial support, lifestyle management and, where necessary, academic flexibility. arobertson@thecourier.co.uk

“I took up hockey because I wanted something tofillupmy time, and it has just gone on from there. KATIE ROBERTSON