TARA Chittenden, a Year 10 student from Thomas Hardye School, has been selected for the national High Performance Assessment Camp (HiPAC).

Chittenden, 14, was chosen after participating in two regional tournaments in Bristol, where she impressed the selectors with her skills and high fitness levels.

She will attend HiPAC over the October half-term where she will gain first-hand experience of an international training camp environment and receive high level coaching from England coaches.

The HiPACs is run by England Hockey Board and is a residential three-day camp which forms part of Junior Regional Performance Centre (JRPC) Tier Two activity.

Players who have attended the HiPAC will have been identified as talented players.

The camps are held annually and are for players in the under-15 and under-17 age group who, like Chittenden, have been selected for squads from JRPC Tier One activity.

These squads are called the Saxon Tigers, the Pennine Pumas, the Wessex Leopards and the Mercia Lynx.

The HiPAC aims to give players first-hand experience of an international training camp environment, in preparation for potential future involvement in national and international competition.

Players receive high level coaching, led by England Hockey Board appointed centrally contracted coaches and regional coaches, as well as match-play opportunities.

There are also workshops on subjects such as anti-doping, injury management and nutrition.

Selected players from these sessions are invited to attend National Age Group Squads (NAGS) (under-16 and under-18) training.

Head of PE at Thomas Hardye, Geraint Hughes said: “I am very proud of what Tara has achieved and wish her every success for the future. “This is a great honour and just reward for her hard work and enthusiasm”

Chittenden added: “I am really looking forward to going to the HiPAC, the whole experience is going to be amazing.

“I think we have a strong Wessex Leopards team and it is going to be fun working with the England coaches.”