Meet the team - Women's Junior Squad for the IHF InterContinental Trophy

GROUP A

GROUP B

Great Britain (GBR)

Mexico (MEX)

Guinea (GUI)

New Caledonia (NCL)

Peru (PER)

Uzbekistan (UZB)

Day

No.

Gp.

Time

Venue

Match

Result

28.02.2024

1

A

14 :00

PER – GBR

2

B

16 :00

UZB – MEX

Day

No.

Gp.

Time

Venue

Match

Result

29.02.2024

3

A

14 :00

GUI – PER

4

B

16 :00

NCL – UZB

Day

No.

Gp.

Time

Venue

Match

Result

01.03.2024

5

A

14 :00

GBR – GUI

6

B

16 :00

MEX – NCL

Day

No.

Time

Venue

Match

Result

02.03.2024

7

11:00

PL5/6 : 3A – 3B

8

17:00

SF1 : 1A – 2B

9

19:00

SF2: 2A – 1B

Day

No.

Time

Venue

Match

Result

03.03.2024

10

14 :00

BRONZE :

LSF1 – LSF2

11

16 :00

FINAL :

WSF1 – WSF2

Closing Ceremony

Hannah Saunders – Left Back + Captain

I’m Hannah and I started playing handball at Poole Phoenix when I was 12, simply by my older brother already playing there and thinking I would be good at it! I was first involved in the GB pathway at age 15 in 2019. I moved to Loughborough in 2020 to join the EPA. During the EPA I was a part of the GBu17 and GBu19 squads, with my first GB experience being in Portugal in July 2022 with the u19s. After I had finished in Loughborough I moved to Denmark and spent the 2022-23 season playing for Ikast u19. In November 2022 I made my women’s international debut in Turkey at the World Championship Qualifiers. I have spent time in Portugal with CDES Gil Eanes on a contract but had to return home for various reasons. I now play for Olympia Handball Club where I am really enjoying playing. I am excited for my future in handball with the aim of going abroad and playing the highest level I can. My favourite handball moment was lifting the IHF trophy in Kosovo; an action I aim to repeat in Uzbekistan!

Heidi Warren – Pivot + Vice-Captain

I have been playing handball for just over 4 years now, first starting in my local club Somerset Spartans. Currently, I am playing in the U19 Liga in Denmark for Ikast Håndbold; I made the decision to move here after spending 2 years at the EPA. My favourite handball memory is winning the U19 IHF trophy in Kosovo

Anna Rayner – Playmaker

I’m Anna Rayner and I started playing handball when I was 12 at school. My PE teacher introduced me to handball, and I later started Guildford Sabres which I joined and quickly fell in love with the sport! Since then, my passion for the sport has kept on growing and has given me so many crazy experiences. In September 2020, at 16 I joined the EPA and played for Loughborough Handball club which was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. After the EPA and A Levels, I was set to go to Ikast in Denmark but unfortunately injured my knee taking me out of handball for a year. I returned to the court in July 2023 where I’ve been able to represent GB at major tournaments, creating unforgettable memories, notably winning the IHF Trophy in Kosovo in October (one of my favourites). I also spent half the 2023-24 season at a Højskole in Denmark, training with some amazing players. Now I’m back in Loughborough for the rest of the season where I’m more motivated and excited than ever for where handball takes me next.

Katherine Kesselring – Playmaker

I’m Katherine and based in Switzerland. My Handball journey began at the age of 13 when I joined the local club. Falling in love with the sport, I moved to the more competitive club LK Zug, where I’ve played ever since. I was part of the U18 team there that won the Swiss Championship as well as reached the Swiss Cup Finals twice. Now, I play for the second division women’s team. When Laura Innes, who was on the 2012 Olympic Team and a coach at my club told me about GB Handball and asked me if I was interested, I said yes immediately, excited at the opportunity. Since then, I’ve played in various tournaments, one of them being the IHF Trophy with this amazing team and I’m excited to see how far we can take it!

Clio Stephanides - Goalkeeper

My handball journey started 6 years ago in Spain at the age of 12 after being introduced to the sport by an older friend. I found the love for handball when playing for Club Balonmano Solúcar. With this club, we qualified for regionals 2 years in a row where I got to experience a new level to handball. 2 years ago I became part of the GB set up, and have since competed in U19 European Championships and won the first round of the IHF Trophy with the team. This season I have moved back to the UK to be an external member of the EPA programme and play for Loughborough Handball Club whilst doing my degree. The development I have made from this prompted my selection for a Senior GB camp in North Macedonia; a great experience which has highlighted the many paths handball had to offer for me in the future.

Ruth Knowles-Jackson – Pivot

I started playing handball at my high school when I was 13, it’s only four years later that I can see the beginning of what I hope is a long line of handball memories. Being in my second year at the EPA and playing for Loughborough Handball Club, I have fulfilled many accomplishments; competing in the 2023 European Championships in late August with the Gb U17 squad to be one of the biggest. To be a part of the U20 squad for Uzbekistan is a huge honour in which a new milestone will be achieved. I am excited to take many things away from this experience which will undoubtedly fuel the adventures to come in my handball journey!

Santina Bunting – Goalkeeper

Getting into handball was a happy accident that occurred when I was in year 10 at school. My coach saw my potential and encouraged me to join the club outside of school, which I did, and lead to me joining the performance pathway. I have had the pleasure of representing GB as the goalkeeper for U17s in Portugal and Denmark and then moving onto U19. I love handball as it’s a dynamic fast-paced sport which keeps you on your feet and is exciting to watch. My favourite memory was winning the international handball championships in Kosovo.

Kayla Henson – Right Wing

I started playing handball for Bucks Bullets in year 7. In year 11 I moved to Northampton Handball Club where I played for one season before joining the EPA in 2022. During my time on the EPA, I got selected to go with GBu19s to the European Championships in July 2023 and then the IHF trophy in October 2023. I am now in my second year of the EPA and play for Nottingham Handball Club.

Grace Concar – Left Back

I have been playing handball since the age of 13 where Nenad Popovic noticed me at a school tournament and invited me to his club. I have played for Cannock ever since and got invited to my first GB camp a few years later. Being a part of the GB pathway has allowed me to travel to all sorts of places which I have enjoyed. I now play for Nottingham Handball women’s team playing fixtures regularly as well as still playing for my local club Cannock at u19 level.

Chloe Barnard – Right Back

My handball journey started at Stroud Handball Club when I was 13. My passion for this sport has allowed me to progress and at age 15 I received my first invitation to a GB U17’s camp. Since then, I have competed in many international events, involving the W17’s European Championships in Turkey and representing the W19’s through victory at the IHF tournament in Kosovo. I can’t wait for the years to come and to see where this fantastic sport takes me.

Florence Willis – Right Wing

I joined Somerset Spartans Handball Club at 13, after trying handball a few times at school. From there, I’ve been able to be a part of the Southwest regional academy programme and progressed into the Futures and GB youth teams. Winning the IHF Trophy continental phase in Kosovo has been my favourite moment in handball and I’m really excited for our next challenge as a team in Uzbekistan.

Syrine Jari – Left Wing

I started playing handball with Sevenoaks Handball Club at age 11 because my father was a handball player and is now a coach. I joined the East regional Academy at the age of 13, then the EPA programme at Loughborough in 2021. After that I went out to Denmark at ISI idrætshøjskole and played with the Ikast U19 team for a year. I am now back to the UK for university and currently play for West London Eagles W1s. My first selection for the W17 GB team was 2020. I then got selected to jo in the W19 2021. My best memory so far is winning the junior IHF trophy with the GB squad in Kosovo. It really is an amazing experience to be able to train, travel and represent Great Britain at international events. Let’s hope for more successes for the team!

Tabatha Dann-Ward – Left Back

I started playing handball at age 13 when a coach from the local club came to my school to run sessions. I had never heard of the game before but was always happy to try any new sport so gave it a go. I carried on playing in school and then played for Stroud Handball club, joining the regional academy programme and then GB programme at U17s. I then decided to make the move to Loughborough to join EPA and play for Loughborough handball where I then became a part of the GB U19s squad.

Alicia Smith – Left Wing

Having been introduced to handball at high school, age 14, Pop from Olympia Cannock HC invited me to play for the club from then I fell in love with the game. Moving through the pathway and being part of the Midlands Regional Academy, I also had my first experience with GB at 16. Unfortunately, due to Covid there were impacting limitations on the way players could develop and compete however, I spent 2 years on the EPA in Loughborough [2021-2023] developing my handball and coaching skills, continuing onto the England Handball Level 2 Coaching award. Currently, I continue to train with the EPA at Loughborough as an external athlete alongside my degree studies. I play for Nottingham Women’s Handball Club and have continued my coaching journey delivering coaching sessions for Olympia Cannock U16 and U19 girls’ teams. As well as the U14 Midlands Regional Academy. I have so many cherished handball memories, Winning the IHF trophy in Kosovo is treasured.