Hawes has hockey elite in his sights after heartening showing in Beijing

Posted: Wednesday 17th September 2008 | 17:56

SURBITON'S Ben Hawes warned hockey's big guns Team GB are a nation on the up after Britain finished their Olympic campaign on a high with a credible fifth-place finish.

Britain secured their fifth place with a 5-2 defeat of Korea in the play-off decider on Saturday to seal their most successful campaign since Sean Kerly helped the Brits to gold at the 1988 Seoul Games.

Just two years ago Britain were ranked 11^th in the world, but after holding their own against the heavyweights of Australia and the Netherlands in Beijing 28-year-old Hawes believes 2012 could see GB return to the top table of men's hockey.

"We finished fifth in the World Cup and to get another fifth in the Olympics is a major achievement," said the GB skipper - who was joined in the squad by Surbiton teammate Ben Marsden.

"We definitely like to think we are fifth in the world regardless of any ranking. Breaking into the top four is what we really want to do.

"They have been consistently out there for some time and we have not really been able to touch time until now.

"They have a win culture about what they do and believe. They have all done it before and success breeds success.

"Although we had success in 1988 it has been relatively slow since then. We are bringing it back slowly but surely.

"We want a medal at 2012. That's the aim and I believe it is a very realistic goal."

Jonty Clarke's double along with strikes from Barry Middleton, Ashley Jackson and an own goal gave Britain their first win over Korea in 18 years.

And Hawes insists all the physical preparation before the tournament had paid off with the British squad still going strong by the end of the tournament.

"I think it was the hardest game physically with the heat and opposition," he said. "We always knew the Koreans were never going to lie down and give it away but by the end they were dead on their feet.

"It has been a long programme and there has been a huge drive on the physical front. Our fitness and conditioning coach Andrew Hudson has been working with us week in week out. We feel very fit "and it showed against some of the top sides.

"We ran hard against Australia who are always in top physical condition and we competed with them very well.

"We out competed the Dutch physically, it was just their skill levels were slightly higher.

"The challenge is to catch up with them on that level but we are not far away."

MATTHEW DAVIS in Beijing