Rising Cumbrian hockey star Lucy Eagling has been picked to play at a national competition for the second successive year.

Eagling, of Stanwix, Carlisle, will play for the Pennine Pumas - who represent the North of England - at the England Hockey Futures Cup. It will be held in St Albans from Wednesday until Saturday.

“It’s a really good competition,” said Simone, 16-year-old Lucy’s mother. “They were beaten in the final last year.

"They will play against a range of teams.”

After the competition, Eagling will then prepare for life outside the county. Having recently left Trinity School, she has secured a scholarship at Rossall School in Fleetwood, which is a boarding school.

Simone explained: “They have some elite athletes coming out of the school in other sports.”

Ahead of the move, Eagling has left Carlisle Hockey Club and signed for Fylde.

“The director of sport at Rossall [Jack Cropper] put her in contact with that team [Fylde],” said Simone.

“For her, it’s a huge achievement. But it’s a big thing for us as a family, as well.

"She is moving away from her friends and family.”

Carlisle’s Joe Harland, meanwhile, will also represent the Pennine Pumas at the Futures Cup in the boys’ event.