The Investec Women's Hockey League season will get underway this weekend, with the winners and runners up of the Investec Women's Premier Division Championship and the three Conferences - North, East and West - each set to receive a share of the prize fund.

Additional bonuses are also on offer at the end of the season for the most valuable player, top goal scorer and most hospitable club in each of the four divisions.

This latest partnership represents the first time ever that teams competing beneath the Premier Division have been offered prize money.

"It is fantastic that thanks to the support of Investec we are now able to offer prize money to the country's most successful teams," said England Hockey Board chief executive Sally Munday.

"The clubs are at the forefront of hockey in England, developing players and working hard to strengthen and grow the sport.

"Having the backing of a sponsor such as Investec is a tremendous vote of confidence in our league programme and in women's sport in England."

In the Investec Women's Premier Division, champions Reading will be favourites to retain their title but could face competition from Leicester who they narrowly defeated 3-2 in the Championship Final last season.

The Investec Women's Hockey League will begin on September 17 with 20 fixtures nationwide, while 11 rounds of matches will be played before the winter break.

The final pre-Christmas fixtures will take place on December 3 before a break, with the season resuming on February 5, 2012.

The final round of league fixtures start on March 24 ahead of the Championship playoffs scheduled for the weekend of April 14-15.

All eyes will then turn to the London 2012 Olympics in July and August, with the top players in the Investec Women's Hockey League set to compete for Britain at the Games where the team will be strong medal contenders.

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