ICE HOCKEY: AFTER six years away from the ice, former Swindon TopCat Debbie Palmer is returning to the Great Britain ice hockey squad.

Palmer, a former speed skating star who went to Grittleton House School, Chippenham, retired from competitive ice hockey six years ago but spent last season as player-coach with Cardiff Comets, a spell which re-ignited her passion for the game.

She said: "Once I had retired, I thought that was it. I have always wanted to be very, very competitive and that part of my life changed.

"Now I am playing more, I want to improve my skills, become fitter and obviously get promotion into the next league with Great Britain."

Last season Palmer, who helped Cardiff retain the Friendship Trophy in Swindon at the weekend, was the British Women's Premier League top scorer.

She added: "Since I've been playing for Comets I've had a new lease of life. It was great to be top scorer in my first full season back.

"Last time I was top scorer was my first year as a senior player when I was about 16."

Palmer is also looking to raise the profile of the women's game, which she recognises as currently inferior to the men's league in terms of sponsorship and coverage.

She said: "The women's game in this country is not that high and it is a little bit of fun it is the poorer sister of the men's game and that is something we hope to change."

During her speed skating career Palmer represented Great Britain at the Albertville Olympic Winter Games in 1992, Lillehammer in 1994 and Salt Lake City in 2002.

She was ten times national speed skating champion, won the 3K title at the 1996 European Championships, and also won three World Championship medals and ten European Championships medals.

Palmer said: "It is an incredible experience to say you have gone to the Olympics.

"I was a speed skater full time and it was a major honour to compete, though sadly I never won a medal."

Swindon-born Palmer has since been working as an exercise physiologist at the University of Bath for the past three years. She will now be studying for her PhD concentrating on injuries within youth academy rugby.

Despite being out of the game for a while, Palmer doesn't think she will encounter too many problems with moving back into it, but will know when to stop.

She said: "I think it will be a case of when my body tells me to stop rather than my head because I will always want to play hockey.

"If I step it up to the next level then I will have to see because it will be difficult to maintain.

"I think if you have the intention to carry on and the desire to play then you will be able to keep playing.

"If I stay injury free I will hopefully play for another six or seven years."