Second year pupil Niamh Clements has been selected to play for Team North East in the UK Lions’ Under 13 Girls Regional Tournament this summer.

Niamh was one of 18 players selected from over 100 invited to trial for the chance to represent the North East region. She will now join top young hockey players from across the country at the UK Lions 2020 Championship at the Nottingham Hockey Centre in July. 

Team North East is regarded as the team to beat in the tournament, having won the U13 Girls Championship twice and been runners-up once in the event’s three-year history.

Niamh said: “Getting picked for Team North East is a big opportunity for me to play against some of the best U13s in the country.  Hockey is my favourite sport and I’d like to play to as high a level as I can achieve.”

The talented young sportswoman plays hockey for Pocklington School, City of York HC - and the North Yorkshire Junior Academy, which is supported by England Hockey to develop young players identified as having the potential to play at an elite level. She has excelled representing the school in cross country and enjoys track events – but says hockey is her passion.

Niamh will be involved in six training and match days with the Team North East squad, in preparation for the UK Lions tournament.

Pocklington School’s Director of Sport, David Byas, said: “This is an outstanding achievement and we are all absolutely delighted for Niamh. We wish her well in her preparation for the tournament and moving forward.”