AN Alton couple have welcomed the latest addition to their family – their very own gold medal baby girl.

Pip Elphee, an avid hockey fan and member of Alton Hockey Club, went into induced labour on August 19 – just as Team GB’s women’s hockey team were clinching gold at the Rio Olympics.

“My husband and I are avid hockey fans, both playing for Alton Hockey Club,” Mrs Elphee explained. “We had been closely following the progress of the women’s GB team in the Olympics, particularly with centre forward Alex Danson being a former Alton player.

“It was decided that our baby girl needed to be born a bit early, so I was to be induced right when the final gold medal match was being played. So, naturally we were following the game in the delivery suite having my waters broken.”

Mrs Elphee added: “We are friends with Alex’s sister, Claire, and got a message to Alex that Nieve was born soon after they had won the gold.

“She was very touched that we would be following the match while waiting for our daughter to arrive and we were given the wonderful opportunity to have a photo with Alex and Nieve together.”

Mrs Elphee and husband, Richard, finally welcomed Nieve into the world at 1.17am on August 20.

Danson’s Team GB clinched hockey gold in Rio after a dramatic penalty shootout against the Netherlands. The game ended 3-3 in regulation time.