At Bathgate Silica Sand, we’re passionate about supporting talent, whether it’s in our local community, the industries we serve, or — as in this case — on the ice rink. This week, we were delighted to welcome Violet Lennon, a rising star in the world of ice hockey, to our site in Sandbach for her first official visit as part of our new sponsorship agreement.
Violet, just 12 years old and hailing from Crewe, already has a remarkable sporting résumé. She plays for the Deeside Dragons junior team and has already represented England 3 times, an achievement that marks her as one of the country’s most promising young players.
A Passion for Ice Hockey from an Early Age
Violet’s journey into the fast-paced, highly skilled sport of ice hockey began at the age of seven, At the time, like many girls of her age, she was taking dance lessons, but that changed the day she saw her dad watching a game on TV. Struck by the sight of the goaltender in full gear, stopping pucks flying in at over 100 miles per hour, she declared she wanted to play, despite having never skated or visited an ice rink. Determined, she joined a seven-week “Learn to Play” program and from her first moment on the ice, she has shown both natural ability and fierce determination to improve her skills.
Her talent quickly became apparent, and she progressed through the Manchester Storm Academy U10’/12′ becoming a regular at U12′ after less than a year on the ice, consistently earning praise from coaches and teammates for her coachability and speed at which she was naturally progressing.
It was this combination of skill and dedication that led to her selection for the England U13 Girls squad for the 3rd year in a row where she and her team flew out to Quebec Canada to play in the biggest junior hockey tournament in the world, the Quebec PeeWee Tournament.
A Warm Welcome at Bathgate Silica Sand
To celebrate our new partnership, we hosted Violet and her family at our Bathgate site. The day began with a warm welcome and a table of specially made cakes — complete with iced decorations in red, white and blue to mark the occasion.
We then gave Violet a guided tour of our facilities, explaining what we do, how our products are used, and introducing her to the Bathgate team. From the production areas to the loading bays, Violet was given an inside look at the scale of our operations and the role we play in supplying silica sand to industries across the UK.
Violet couldn’t believe it when she not only got to sit in a gigantic Volvo loader but also have a go at using the bucket.
Building a Partnership for the Future
This sponsorship isn’t just about funding — it’s about creating a supportive environment where young talent can thrive. By backing Violet, we hope to give her the resources she needs to focus on her training, travel to matches, and continue competing at the highest levels.
We’re also looking forward to following her progress and sharing her story with our community. Whether it’s match updates, training milestones, or behind-the-scenes moments, we’ll be keeping our followers updated on her journey through our website and social media channels.
Violet stated:
“I’m really proud and honoured to have Bathgate as part of my team and to be able to represent them in everything I do. This partnership means I can keep pushing for my ultimate goal which is Team GB and playing in the PWHL”
The Managing Director’s Perspective
Our Managing Director, David Robinson, shared his excitement about the new partnership:
“We’re thrilled to be sponsoring Violet and playing a small part in helping her pursue her dreams. It’s inspiring to see someone so young showing such skill, determination, and sportsmanship. She’s a fantastic role model for other young athletes in our region.”
Why Ice Hockey? Why Violet?
Ice hockey might not be the most common sport in our part of the UK, but it’s one that requires incredible discipline, speed, and teamwork — qualities that align closely with our own values at Bathgate Silica Sand.
Violet’s commitment to training, her passion for the game, and her ability to perform under pressure are all traits that we admire and believe will serve her well in her career — both on and off the ice.
Celebrating a ‘Purple Patch’
We’re hoping this the start of a “purple patch” for both Violet and Bathgate Silica Sand. In sporting terms, a purple patch is a period of exceptional success — and that’s exactly what we’re aiming for. For Violet, it’s about continuing her rapid rise in the sport. For us, it’s about strengthening our connections to the community, promoting young talent, and being part of something bigger than business alone.
To mark the beginning of this journey, we’ve shared photos from Violet’s visit on our social media channels.
Looking Ahead
With England team selection under her belt and the support of Bathgate Silica Sand behind her, Violet’s future looks bright. Over the coming months, she’ll be training hard, competing in matches, and building her skills to prepare for the upcoming season which, for her, will include no less than 4 club teams across 3 age groups, representing both mixed gender and girls squads. Violet will also be pushing to be selected for the England U13 girls team for the fourth year in a row.
We’ll be following her progress closely, cheering her on from the sidelines, and keeping our customers, partners, and followers up to date with her achievements.
For Violet, this sponsorship represents an opportunity to take her career to the next level. For us, it’s a chance to be part of a young athlete’s journey from local success to national — and perhaps even international — recognition.
How You Can Follow Violet’s Journey
We encourage everyone to support Violet by following her progress both here on our website and via her team’s social media channels:
- Deeside Dragons https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CVXQ4ynLe/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- England Ice Hockey www.englandicehockey.com
- violetgoalie_80
