Hockey: Manx players selected for England Hockey Talent Academy event

Festival being held in Nottingham this weekend (29-31 July)

A group of young Manx hockey players will have the chance to test their skills against fellow big prospects in the sport in the UK this weekend.

Five players from the Isle of Man will take part in the England Hockey Talent Academy Festival being held at Nottingham Hockey Centre this Saturday and Sunday (29-31 July).

The festival will see 24 boys and 24 girls teams from across England - including Northern Ireland and Wales - with over 800 players expected to take part.

The five Manx players will be involved in the northwest fixtures of the tournament - in the girls tournaments will be Bacchas HC players Claire Mason and Martha Broderick along with Ela Blakemore of Harlequins HC.

Meanwhile, Archie Cox and Joseph Savage, both of Castletown HC, will be involved in the boys competition.

The festival is seen as an opportunity to celebrate the progress of the talent systems in the sport across the UK whilst allowing academies from England, Wales and Ulster to get game experience against each other.