Three outstanding young sportspeople to have come to prominence during their time at The Leys School, Cambridge, have been selected for development programmes designed to take them on to greater things.
Cricketer Issy R outledge (U6), pictured, has been selected for the Sunrisers Cricket Performance Programme at Academy Level for the coming season. The London and East Sunrisers is one of eight regional hubs competing in the new Women’s Elite Domestic Structure. Prior to joining the Sunrisers Academy, she was on the Loughborough Lightning Regional Development Centre for two years and transferred to play county age group cricket for Essex from 2016 after starting at Cambridgeshire.
Opening batsman Issy was star of the School Sport Magazine National Schools U15 Girls T20 Cricket Cup in 2018, in which The Leys reached the final in their first competitive season. She made history by becoming the first girl to play in The Leys 1st XI team in the annual match against an MCC team last summer. She joined Cambridgeshire girls’ age groups at 12 and by her U13 season she had played for the U15s, U17s and Women’s teams.
Hockey players and Old Leysians James Albery and Katie Curtis have been selected for the GB Elite Development Programme (EDP). The EDP was formed three years ago to nurture the international sporting ambitions of potential Olympic medallists from the Home Nations. Depending on the pandemic situation, it is hoped EDP players will be able to compete internationally, including at the Senior EuroHockey Championships in July and the Junior World Cups for England’s U21s later in the year. England teams will also be sent to the inaugural EuroHockey5s Championships this summer.
James, who was Head Prefect at The Leys, is a previous U21 England Hockey captain. He was the Hockey Writers’ Club Junior Hockey player of the year at just 15. Katie, currently at the University of Nottingham, played in the national U16 Girls squad and captained The Leys U16 Girls’ side that reached the national schools’ hockey finals in two successive years. Issy, James and Katie are previous winners of the Roy Burrell Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year award, for outstanding young players in Cambridgeshire.