THOMAS Hardye hockey ace Tara Chittenden has been called up to represent England Under-16s against the Netherlands later this month.

The Year 11 pupil was selected after trials with a 26-girl training squad at the Lilleshall Sports Centre of Excellence in Shropshire.

Chittenden, 16, was delighted to find out about her international call-up for the match against one of the top hockey nations on the planet.

She said: “I am really looking forward to training and playing at an international level with the Netherlands team, who are considered as one of the best in the world.”

The teenager first started playing hockey at school and progressed to Weymouth Ladies, where she developed her skills and knowledge of the game.

She was encouraged to enter the single hockey player system, going from county level through to her England selection.

Chittenden currently plays for Bournemouth Ladies in Premier League Division One.