A SPORTS teacher will play a leading role in organising this year’s Lacrosse World Cup.

Wendy Reynolds, a Director of Sport at Heathfield School, London Road, Ascot, is the only woman in the UK to have played, coached, umpired and officiated at the Lacrosse World Cup.

She will once again be right at the heart of the action when the international women’s tournament between 28 countries takes place in the UK next month.

Ms Reynolds said: “I’ve told my students at Heathfield that they need to come and watch and learn!

“It’s a great spectator sport, a very fast game and for me it is unlike any other – involving both athleticism and tactics.

“Lacrosse has taken me all over the world, including trips to Australia, Japan, Canada, and the USA , but you can’t get much better than a tournament in your own country.

“This is the third time the Championships have been held in England, providing a great opportunity to watch the best players in the world. “We are hoping for some television coverage which will help raise the profile of the sport in our bid to become recognised as an Olympic sport.”

Ms Reynolds has been part of the Lacrosse World Cup since 1993 when she first appeared as goalkeeper for the England team.

She will help to ensure the smooth running of the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, Surrey from July 12 to July 22.

The school teacher will be on hand from July 6 to welcome and brief the other officials, then busy from 8am to 8pm every day of the tournament. Then it’s back to school in September where the lucky Heathfield students who play in the National Schools’ Lacrosse competitions can learn from her world-class skills and experience.