SWINDON youngster Nat O’Dwyer will be aiming to put in an Olympic-sized effort when he and his Team Bath Buccaneers U14 side attempt to become national champions next month.

Lydiard Park Academy pupil O’Dwyer, who turns 14 on Sunday, is part of the first-ever Team Bath side to reach the national finals of England Hockey’s Boys U14 Championship, where eight teams, split into two groups of four, will bid for glory at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on May 14.

After storming through local and regional stages, winning all seven matches along the way, Team Bath will bid to reach the semi-finals as they take on Beeston, Bishop’s Stortford and Surbiton.

O’Dwyer’s dad Mark, who is a junior coach at Swindon hockey club, mum Clare, elder sister Shona, 18, who began training with the England Nation Age Groups Academy last year, and youngster sister Libby, 10, who also plays hockey, will be there to watch him in action but the east London venue will hold no surprises for the teenager.

During the London 2012, the O’Dwyers watched Great Britain beat New Zealand 3-1 in the women’s bronze medal match at the same stadium, which was then known as the Riverbank Arena – flash-forward almost four years, and the Swindon youngster is preparing to follow in those Olympians footsteps.

“I didn’t think that I’d get to play on the same pitch that we watched Great Britain on in the Olympics,” said O’Dwyer, who has also recently earned a place training at England Hockey’s Junior Regional Performance Centre in Bristol over the summer.

“We’ll get to train on the pitch on the Friday night and we’re to stay over on the Friday – I think the atmosphere is going to be amazing.

“I’ve played every minute of every match in the nationals this year. Beeston and Surbiton, who are in our group, are both former champions, so we’re going to have some very tough matches.

“But I’m looking forward to it. I joined Bath this year (after previously playing for Swindon) and I think I’ve improved from playing with better players.

“We’ve also got a regional final in the Avon League on my birthday on Sunday.”