British Handball

Amondine Webb

2010-08-24T17:23:00.002+01:00

Name: Amondine Webb

DoB: 17 may 1977

Position: Line player

Current Club: BK Heid, Göteborg (Sweden)

Previous Clubs: Kv Ik Sport and Kungälvs HK

Ambition: To never be satisfied and always try to improve and to continue to enjoy the game.

Life After 2012: Yes! I got lots off plans... They keep on changing... We’ll see when we get there.

A bit about me: I’ve been playing handball all my life. I’m married and have two small kids. My family means a lot to me and they support me. When I’m not training I work as a teacher.

Ewa Palies

2010-08-24T17:18:00.003+01:00

Name: Ewa Palies

DoB: 30/01/89

Position: Back Player (left/centre/right)

Current Club: Handball Plan de Cuques (France)

Previous Clubs: 1999-2005 Montpellier Universite Club (France)/ 2005-2008 HBC Nimes (France)/ 2008-2010 SUN Al Bouillargues (France)

Ambition: To take part in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Life After 2012: I will be only 23 in 2012, so I will continue playing handball for a number of years.

A bit about me: I live in the south of France and I have been playing handball since I was ten. At the moment I play in Division Two (in France, Division 1 is elite) but I am ambitious and I hope one day to play in a club at the highest level.

However, I have decided to continue my studies as well as play handball. I have just obtained a bachelor’s degree in physics and chemistry and now I’m going to do a masters’ degree specialising in chemistry. So I have a very busy life, but it is exciting because I can still play handball (my passion) every day.

Like most girls of my age I love spending time with friends, going out for meals, going to the cinema or to concerts, listening to music (all sorts), window-shopping… but I am also keen on skiing and as I live near the coast I enjoy going to the beach and playing beach handball (called sandball here).

I am proud to be part of the GB team. It’s great fun being with the other girls and it’s a wonderful experience to play at an international level. My dream is to be selected for the Olympic games and to be on the podium!

Gawain Vincent

2010-08-24T17:08:00.003+01:00

Name: Gawain Vincent

DoB: 9th March 1990

Position: Right back

Current Club: Nantes, France (1st Division)

Previous Clubs: Torcy, France (3rd Division)

Ambition: To play professional handball for as long as possible.

Life After 2012: Ditto.

A bit about me: From the age of three months, when my parents started taking me to special sessions for babies at the swimming pool, I have always done a lot of sport.

I tried rock-climbing, judo, athletics, rugby, football and tennis. I discovered handball at school, and started playing with a club at Torcy, in France, when I was 13 years old.

Torcy is a very good club with an excellent atmosphere. We came first, or nearly first, in almost all of our tournaments. The highlight was coming 5th in the national championship for under 18s. After that I moved up to the club’s second adult team, and the following year, 2009, I got my first contract, this time with the club’s first team, which played in the National 1 group (equivalent of 3rd Division). The season was disappointing, with many players getting bad injuries.

In the spring of 2010 I was offered a place in the training centre of the Nantes team (1st Division). I accepted, and moved to Nantes in July.

As well as playing in France, at the beginning of 2009 I was selected for the under 21 GB team, and then later that year for the senior GB team, which is a great honour for me. My mother is British and my father French, and we speak French at home, so I’m trying to improve my English as well as my handball skills.

When I’m not playing handball, I’m studying economics and management in a Paris university and if all goes well, I should graduate in June 2011.

When I’m not playing handball or studying, I enjoy music, cinema, and spending time with my friends.

Jeanett Andersen

2010-08-24T17:04:00.003+01:00

Name: Jeanett Vestergaard Andersen

DoB: 24/4/1991

Position: Line player

Current Club: Aalborg DH 2 , 2nd division (Aalborg KFUM)

Previous Clubs: Nøvling IF and Aalborg DH

Ambition: To be selected for the Olympics and to play on a higher level (in club).

Life After 2012: Still working hard on my ambitions.

A bit about me: My Name is Jeanett, and I'm 19 years old. I live in Aalborg with my parents.

I go on Aalborghus Gymnasium and I am on the 3rd and last year after the summer break. I play handball 4-5 times a week in my club.

Marie Gerbron

2010-08-24T16:59:00.004+01:00

Name: Marie Gerbron

DoB: 23/12/1986

Position: Right back/Wing

Current Club: Handball Octeville sur Mer (France)

Previous Clubs: Havre Athletic Club Handball (France)

Ambition: be part of the British handball team as long as possible

Life After 2012: ?

A bit about me: I am 24 and I am a PhD student in biology. I play handball in a French club and I have been playing handball since I was 7.

I have joined the British handball team in 2010 and participated to my first camp in March. I am left handed so I can play as a right back or right wing.

Nicholas Satchwell

2010-08-24T16:57:00.004+01:00

Name: Nicholas Satchwell

DoB: 23/07/91

Position: Goalkeeper

Current Club: Tommerup HK (DK)

Previous Clubs: Haarby BK (DK) , HC Oberstrass (CH)

Ambition: To be part of the GB team at 2012 Olympics.

Life After 2012: To continue playing handball at the highest possible level.

A bit about me: Unlike many on the GB team I have been playing handball since I was a child.

I was raised in Denmark where it is the national sport and started playing for the local team age 9.

I first got involved with GB handball as part of the U21’s squad which took part in the World Championship qualifiers in 2009. Unfortunately I broke my finger two weeks prior to the tournament and was unable to participate.

Since then I have been able to make the jump into the Senior Men’s squad and was a member of the team for the Men’s European qualifiers 2010 in Crystal Palace.

Next year will be a significant change for me as I have decided to leave school and my family and go to the handball academy in Aarhus, which offers a higher level of training and coaching than what I am used to.

Hopefully this will improve me as a player and help me gain a place in the squad that will go to the Olympics in 2012.

Nils Keller

2010-08-24T16:55:00.003+01:00

Name: Nils Keller

DoB: 18/10/1979

Position: Right Wing

Current Club: Lillestrøm Topphåndball

Previous Clubs: Fet IL, Nit/Hak, Romerike HK

Ambition: To be the best I can. Be well enough to play for Britain in 2012.

Life After 2012: Go on in handball, play or coach and carry on my work career.

A bit about me: I am from Norway, 30 years old. Have a English father and a Norwegian mother. Live in Oslo were i have my own apartment. Besides playing handball my interests are trips to the mountains, fishing, music and football.

I work as a sales consultant for a major soda and beer company here in Norway. I am serious about my handball.

Robin Garnham

2010-08-24T16:52:00.003+01:00

Name: Robin Garnham

DoB: 1988/05/01

Position: Line Player

Current Club: Kärra HF

Previous Clubs: IFK Hammarö, IK Sävehof, IFK Karlskrona.

Ambition: To be a good international handball player.

Life After 2012: we'll have to wait and see what happens!

A bit about me: I live in Gothenburg, Sweden and play handball here in Kärra HF. I love watching movies after training sessions and to spend time with friends and family.

Yvonne Leuthold

2010-08-24T16:50:00.003+01:00

Name: Yvonne Leuthold

DoB: 30/01/1980

Position: Right Back

Current Club: SV Allensbach (2. Bundesliga Sued, Germany).

Previous Clubs: Rotweiss Thun (NLA, Switzerland); SG BBM Bietigheim (2. Bundesliga Sued, Germany).

Ambition: Participate with Team GB at the Olympics in London 2012.

Life After 2012: Sun, Fun and nothing to do!

A bit about me: I was born in Switzerland and played there for about nine years. I have a Swiss and a British passport.

In August 2009 I moved to Germany for playing handball more professionally. Since spring 2008 I have been a member of the British National Team, and I'm very proud to play with this squad.

We will maybe never be the best handballers in the world, but we will fight every game like its our last!

Louise Jukes

2009-05-28T17:04:00.012+01:00

Name: Louise Jukes

DoB: 14/04/84

Position: Line Player

Current Club: Asker, Norway

Previous Clubs: Skovbakken, Denmark

Ambition: To compete in the London 2012 London Olympic games and promote handball to the British public so it becomes a popular sport in the UK.

Life After 2012: To continue to play handball for as long as my body allows and to compete in other major tournament such as the European or World Championships.

A bit about me: I was selected onto the World Class handball programme in January 2008 having come through the Talent Identification Programme which aimed to get tall and talented women into minority sports.

I was not chosen for my soaring height (a mere 169cms) but for my sporting history having represented England previously in Hockey. I also think some of my testing results helped me along the way too. Since then I have not looked back, having given up my house, job, family and friends and relocated first to Denmark for 1 year and then onto Norway.

I currently train a minimum twice a day, 6 days a week, including league matches for my club team, Asker. In order to fund myself I work part time, when possible, as a physiotherapist at a local chiropractors practice.

In my limited spare time I like to watch movies, listen to music and read trashy magazines, and since being in Norway discovered a love for skiing and kayaking. My home county Suffolk have been very supportive over the last two years and has given me sponsorship money through the Sportsaid Scholarship, without which I would not be able to continue.

Kathryn Fudge

2009-05-28T16:43:00.010+01:00

Coming Soon

Kelsi Fairbrother

2009-05-28T15:21:00.006+01:00

Coming Soon

Holly Lam-Moores

2008-05-14T10:56:00.009+01:00

Name: Holly Lam-Moores

DoB: 12/09/90

Position: Left wing

Current Club: AGF (1st Div Denmark).

Previous Clubs: Haslingden Handball (England), Grenaa IF (Denmark), SK Aarhus U18 (Denmark, Asker SK (Norway).

Ambition: to represent Great Britain in handball at the 2012 Olympics in London and to compete in some of the best leagues in the world.

Life After 2012: to play handball for as long as my body lets me and then help promote handball in Great Britain in some way. I would also like to become a physiotherapist or coach.

A bit about me: I have been playing handball since 2004 and have previously competed in netball, football and athletics.

Lynn McCafferty

2008-05-13T12:01:00.008+01:00

Name: Lynn McCafferty

DoB: 16/04/1979

Position: Playmaker

Current Club: Training with SK Aarhus.

Previous Clubs: SSV Brixen, Asker, Hadsten, Horsens, Grenaa, Brabrand.

Ambition: Work hard on becoming an effective player in the team so as to be a part of the GB handball squad that will be competitive at the 2012 London Olympics.

Life After 2012: I intend to begin my married life and hopefully start a family.

A bit about me: I love playing handball and am enjoying experiencing handball in other countries and having the opportunity to meet new people and other handballers.

When I go home I love to spend time with my husband, family and friends.

Daniel McMillan

2008-03-15T11:51:00.007Z

Name: Daniel McMillan

DoB: 12/08/1982

Position: Centre Back / Pivot

Current Club: Viby IF (Danish 2nd Div).

Previous Clubs: Skovbakken (Danish 3rd Div), TUSEM Essen (German Premier Div).

Ambition: To make the 2012 Olympic 14-man team.

Life After 2012: Coaching, broadcasting, commentating for either Handball or American Football.

A bit about me: I am 27, 6ft 3”, 90kg and have been an athlete for five years now. I used to play American Football semi-professionally in Germany and that is where I saw Handball for the first time. In my past time and the off season I go surfing with my friends to relax.

Bill Baillie

2008-03-15T11:17:00.008Z

RELISHING the challenge of helping Great Britain to glory is WCHP performance coach Bill Baillie, but if it wasn’t for a strange twist of fate he might never have worked in handball.
The 46-year-old Scot, who now lives in Bury, near Manchester, explained: “Judo was cancelled one night, and I went to see what else was on. I’ve been hooked on handball ever since.”
Baillie began playing with Tryst 77 in 1976, and after 11 years moved on to Salford and then Haslingden. He was player-coach at all those clubs, and with his top level playing days are over he remains at Haslingden as coach.
Career before handball: Steel construction worker from 1978-87, then assistance principle sports development officer with Salford City Council from 1987-2006.
Hobbies: Travelling.
Ambitions: To see Great Britain perform credibly in the 2012 Olympics, leaving a legacy for the development of the sport in the UK.
What do you hope to be doing in five years time? A full time trainer at a UK or European club.
Favourite Food and Drink: Italian food, and a good red wine.
If you could change one thing, it would be…: Build more suitable sports halls in the UK with cheap access for young people.

Jesper Parker

2008-03-05T10:45:00.007Z

Name: Jesper Parker

DoB: 1984, April 18th

Position: Goalkeeper

Current Club: Kärra HF, Sweden.

Previous Clubs: Redbergslids IK, Sweden; Sundsvalls HK, Sweden.

Ambition: Work together with the two fantastic goalkeeper coaches I have (one in GB and one in my club team) to make the best possible progress in the time remaining until the Olympic Games, so that I can make a really strong performance.

Life After 2012: I currently work as a management consultant for Ernst & Young in Sweden.

They are giving me support for my Olympic dreams now, but I expect that after the Games that career is what I will focus on the most.

A bit about me: I was born in 1984, with a British father and a Swedish mother. I’ve played handball since I was 9 and have an MSc in Business Administration and a BSc in Industrial Engineering and Management.

I live in Gothenburg, Sweden where I play for Kärra HF in the Allsvenskan league (2nd highest Swedish league). Previously I’ve spent two years in Elitserien, the top league, and my aim this year is to get back to that level.

I’m a goalkeeper, and as such my greatest advantage is my height (2 metres/6ft 6.7”). When not playing handball or working I enjoy travelling and meeting interesting people.

John Pearce

2008-02-09T12:56:00.007Z

Coming Soon

Robert White

2008-02-09T12:53:00.008Z

Name: Bobby White

DoB: 5 April 1983

Position: Goalkeeper

Current Club: Kydon Handball Club (Greece).

Previous Clubs: BMI, Denmark. A1 Bregenz (Austria). Bjerringbro-Silkerborg-Voel (Denmark).

Ambition: Compete at London 2012.

Life After 2012: Possible handball goalkeeper coaching/Handball Development in UK. Start a Family.

A bit about me: I have recently moved to Crete to play for Kydon Handball in the Greek 1st Division. I am relishing the opportunity to establish myself as the number one goalkeeper for the club and continue my development as we get closer to 2012. Away from handball I play golf and like to watch football. I also play the guitar and am learning to play the ukelele.

I recently started a distance learning masters degree in Sport and Exercise Science and hope to have this completed shortly after the 2012 Games.

Merlin Braithwaite

2008-02-09T12:51:00.008Z

Name: Merlin Braithwaite

DoB: 01/09/1987

Position: Right back

Current Club: HSE Hamm (3rd League Germany).

Previous Clubs: Kristiansand IF (Norway); IFK Trelleborg (Sweden); Tusem Essen (Germany); Aarhus GF, Viby IF (Denmark); ASV Senden, BSV Roxel (Germany).

Ambition: To participate in the London Olympics 2012!

Life After 2012: Playing professional Handball, still be playing for GB Handball.

Christopher McDermott

2008-02-06T12:04:00.007Z

Name: Christopher McDermott

DoB: 07/06/1989

Position: Line Player

Current Club: RD Slovan

Previous Clubs: Wirral H.C, Skovebakken, TUSEM Essen, Aarhus G.F.

Ambition: Compete at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Life After 2012: Continue playing handball in Europe and at International level. Start the education I have put on hold again!

A bit about me: Can I have single and looking in here?

I moved to Denmark in 2006. Since then have lived in Germany and now live in Slovenia. Before I moved away I lived on the Wirral and played handball in the British National league for Wirral H.C. I started playing when I was 9 years old and have been hooked ever since.

Though I love what I do, I relish any opportunity to go home and spend time with friends and family!

I still don’t know what I’m going to do when I grow up.

Sebastian Prieto

2008-02-06T10:00:00.009Z

Coming Soon

Mark Hawkins

2008-02-06T09:44:00.006Z

Name: Mark Hawkins

DoB: 28/12/1985

Position: Left Wing

Current Club: HK Aarhus Nord, Denmark

Previous Clubs: BMI, Denmark

Ambition: To compete for team GB at London in 2012

Life After 2012: See where Handball takes me and stay in sports, probably related to my education.

A bit about me: I come from Horsham, West Sussex. I came to handball through the sporting giants TID program and moved to Denmark in January 2008. A former basketball player I played for Brighton Bears and UWIC whilst representing Welsh Universities at the British University Games in my time at university at UWIC in Cardiff, also playing in National University Championships and several Junior national finals.

I have been in Denmark now for just over 2.5 years and therefore been playing handball for this long. Since I have been in Denmark I have completed my masters degree in Performance Analysis. After moving to Denmark in January 2008 I eventually made my international Debut against Greece in June 2009, and the biggest moment of my international career to date was beating Bulgaria in London in June 2010.

Off the court, I read a lot and watch a lot of films, as well as following a whole number of different sports. I am also an avid poker player and like to play in my free time when I get some away from handball and studying.

Liam Back

2008-02-02T16:01:00.005Z

Coming Soon

Chris Mohr

2008-02-02T15:54:00.007Z

Name: Chistopher Mohr

DoB: 12/01/90

Position: left back/playmaker

Current Club: Odder Håndbold

Previous Clubs: Brabrand IF, TuSEM Essen, BSV Bjerringbro Silkeborg

Ambition: Be part of the 15 man squad that represents GB Handball in the 2012 Olympics and play in the German Bundesliga again

Life After 2012: Be a professional handball player in Germany or Denmark

A bit about me: I am 20 years old, 188cm tall and weigh 84kg. I grew up in Germany and started playing handball there at the age of five. When I was 16 I joined the British handball national team and since have played 22 internationals in which I scored 55 goals.

When I was 16 I moved to Denmark to live and play handball at a sportsacademy. In 2009 I played half a season for TuSEM Essen in the German Bundesliga. The last year I spent in Denmark again and played for BSV Bjerringbro Silkeborg. Now I am going to play for a club called Odder Håndbold in Denmark again.

Huw Goodwin

2008-02-02T15:52:00.006Z

Name: Huw Goodwin

DoB: 15-08-82

Position: Left back / playmaker

Current Club: None

Previous Clubs: Viby, TMS, Skovbakken (all Denmark)

Ambition: Be part of the 2012 squad and make a difference when on court at the Olympics.

Life After 2012: Freedom!

A bit about me: I used to play rugby (union and league) and did it semi-professionally in France, before returning to the UK and trying to make use of my Psychology degree and get a proper job.

Whilst job searching I also registered my interest in the Talent Identification scheme to get into handball. Several rounds of trialling later and suddenly I found myself in the World Class GB Handball programme, living and training full time in Denmark trying to get to the 2012 Olympics. I have also been studying a PhD alongside this programme and hope to complete it soon, so that I can focus more fully on the road to London.

I have many interests, and always love learning new things, although sport has always been my biggest interest – I will watch and play most sports.

Ciaran Williams

2008-01-31T20:44:00.006Z

Name: Ciaran Williams

DoB: 22.12.87

Position: Playmaker

Current Club: Tistedal Halden (Norway)

Previous Clubs: Salford HC, GOG Svendborg (DK), TMS (DK), Bjerringbro Silkeborg-Voel (DK), TuSEM Essen (Ger).

Ambition: To captain GB at 2012, and to play in the Bundesliga again in the future.

Life After 2012: I want to carry on to the top level of handball and hopefully come back to Britain to play in the future. I also want to coach.

A bit about me: I am from Manchester, and I’m currently the Captain of the GB Men’s team and have been for one year. I have played handball for 16 years, and first started playing after I was introduced to it by my Mum and Dad, who both played for GB.

In 2006 I moved to Denmark as part of the WCHP and I have remained in the program ever since. I have played in Denmark, Germany and now Norway.

My biggest achievement was in June 10’ when I captained GB to their first competitive home victory, ever. Another personal achievement include being the first British player to play in the German 1st Bundesliga, the best handball league in the world.

When I am not playing handball I love to travel, and shop and plan to travel Asia when I have the time post 2012! Films, music, languages and reading are also big interests of mine. My favourite music includes Oasis, Mumford & Sons, David Gray, Trentemoller and anything from Manchester.

My favourite films are Midnight Express & Good Will Hunting, and I will read anything by Tony Parsons. I love to learn new languages, which sometimes only extends to a few “useful” sentences, which the rest of the GB squad like to make fun of me for!

I have been nicknamed “Plano” by a few of the boys, and also made fun of a few times for incidents including "Ghengis Khan" and "Pony Boy" I won’t explain but you can ask one of the boys!!!

Jesper Holmris

2008-01-29T09:56:00.001Z

Holmris, 39, is the Head Coach of GB Women and came to the role following an exciting three and a half year spell as head coach at SK Aarhus in his home country of Denmark, where he took them to the top flight of the game despite starting from scratch with a relatively small budget.

As a player Holmris, pictured, achieved great success, notching up 128 senior appearances for Danish first division club Bjerringbro during a six-year stay where he scored 319 goals.

He then moved into coaching, and after working with the youth team at Bjerringbro, he was men’s coach for Yellow Winterthur in Switzerland for three years before heading to Aarhus, where he was women’s coach for three years.