Hockey:
SAMANTHA Judge travels back to Holland soon on a double mission to help her present club to promotion and boost her fast-growing reputation still further.
The internationalist returned to Scotland to graduate in sports science from Edinburgh University and spend the festive period with her family. But she has no regrets at going Dutch to join ambitious Klein Zwitserland which boasts 50 junior teams and publishes its own weekly newsletter.
Crowds of around 600 regularly attend games involving the leading men's and women's team, and the sport has its own special TV highlights programme every week.
''Top players are real celebrities and people come up to you in the street,'' said the 21-year-old former Hutcheson's Grammar pupil who is determined to force her way into contention for the 2004 Olympic Games.
''Dutch hockey is among the best in the world and you just have to look at the national team's results to verify that. I'm delighted to be a part of it,'' said the former WestCoast Western star.
Fellow-Scot Ailsa Young was the catalyst for the move and Samantha said: ''We're second in the league after the first half of the Dutch season, and we're in good shape for promotion from Division Two.
''We've also got a tremendous coach in Carina Benninger who is a legend in Holland and one of the best women hockey players the Dutch have ever produced,'' said the whole-hearted player from Bridge of Weir.
''She's also one of the top 50 Dutch sportswomen of all time and she's made us into a fit, young team, bursting with ambition.''
The Scot added: ''I've learned a tremendous amount since moving to Holland. ''I'm also much more confident and worldly-wise as a person and if Klein win promotion I'd love to play in the top division with them.
''It's a tremendous club and I've only been there three months but I've been made to feel really welcome and I really appreciate that.''
Samantha lives in a flat and looks after two Dutch boys during the day while their parents are out at work.
She also coaches promising youngsters at Klein Zwitserland and is attempting to learn Dutch but added: ''I'm also cycling a lot as one does in Holland.''
Recently, the talented player popped up to Bell's Sports Centre, Perth, to watch her former team-mates attempt to retain the National League, Division One, women's title.
''I didn't take my hockey stick with me,'' admitted Samantha who said: ''I've been playing hockey solidly, without a break, for months and I needed a break that's why I came home.
''When I go back to Holland we've got about one month of preparation before the league starts again. It finishes in May and let's hope we're celebrating promotion.''
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