Teenage Cumbrian hockey star Lucy Eagling has been celebrating after she came away with a gold medal from the England Hockey Futures Cup.

Playing for the Pennine Pumas - who represented the North of England - at the competition which was held in St Albans from last Wednesday until Saturday, 16-year-old Eagling helped to steer her side to glory as they became Under-17s national champions.

They won 2-0 against Celtic Jaguars and 4-2 against Mercia Lynx, before the Pumas faced the Saxon Tigers in the final. A tense match ended 1-1 as the Pennine Pumas then won the penalty shoot-out 3-2.

Eagling, of Stanwix, Carlisle, will now prepare for life outside the county. Having recently left Trinity School, she has secured a scholarship at Fleetwood-based Rossall School, which is a boarding school.

Simone, Lucy’s mum, said: “It [the final] was a close and tense match in very hot conditions, but Lucy was delighted to pick up gold this year.

“It was a long, but happy, journey home. Now, [we have] a busy week, preparing for [Eagling’s leaving] party on Friday, then she leaves on Monday.”

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

But, nevertheless, Eagling will still be at Carlisle’s HockeyFest event which will be held at Austin Friars School this Sunday, before she moves away the next day.