A TEENAGE Northumberland hockey player has won a prestigious award.

Hannah Cutler, who lives near Matfen, was the winner of the junior girls 16-and-under accolade at the Hockey Writers' Club youth and junior awards 2022.

The judging panel sought information from coaches, clubs and schools, with the judges considering not just hockey ability but players’ personal qualities and potential for future development.

Past winners of the awards include Rio Olympic Games gold medallists Maddie Hinch and Sophie Bray.

Hannah joined Tynedale Hockey Club aged 10 as an outfield player. In February 2020, she had a try in goal, representing Tynedale U12s in the North East finals of the In2Hockey competition and kept a series of clean sheets.

During lockdown she loaned a goalie kit from the club to practice in an open barn at home, while she joined Tynedale Harriers as a budding runner. Aged 14, she was one of the youngest ever competitors to qualify for Team GB at the U20 European Championship sprint triathlon in Madrid 2023 and was nominated for Tynedale Young Sportswoman of the Year award. 

The 15-year-old is now part of the England U16s, representing the North East of England. She is the first player from Tynedale Junior HC, which began in 2013, to represent them at this level.

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"It's great," said Hannah on winning the award. "Maddie Hinch has won it before so it's really a privilege to win, but also inspiring that it shows I can get there as well."

Maggie Coombe, who alongside Jo Holmes coaches Hannah at Tynedale Hockey Club, said: "It's an amazing achievement. She's a star.

"She's incredibly naturally gifted."

"The thing about her that is so amazing is that she gives the team a lot of energy because she's played at a high level," Maggie added. "She's really encouraging."

Hannah is also a keen artist, having the unusual accolade of displaying her artwork in both Antarctica and the international space station. Hannah also created a bronze sculptured baton that travelled as part of a national cycle relay for mental and physical health following Covid to every cathedral in England.