YORK hockey starlet Kate Longbotham is hoping to sweep the competition aside at an international training camp for the Scotland Under-21 women's squad.

The 18-year-old is one of 30 young players singled out for their potential, and will be travelling to Alcala la Real in Spain at the beginning of April to convince selectors that she is good enough for the forthcoming European championships - despite being up to three years younger than some of her team-mates.

"I am fairly hopeful of making the team," she said. "They have picked 16 out of the 30 to go on a training camp during the Easter holidays and I am one of them, so that is a really positive sign, although I don't want to count my chickens before they've hatched.

"The other players are all a lot older and I have that extra year if it doesn't work out this time."

She qualifies for the Scottish team through her father, who was born north of the border, although she has been involved in North of England representative sides in the past.

She is the vice-captain for Queen Margaret's School first XI, where she is currently working towards A-levels in the sixth form, and is also a member of the City of York women's first team.

Next year, Longbotham is hoping to continue her studies - and her hockey - at Birmingham University.

She said: "I would like to go as high as I can in hockey. I am currently sorting out university stuff and I'm hoping to go to Birmingham to study sport and exercise science. Their hockey team plays in the National League - and that helped make up my mind."

Updated: 11:18 Tuesday, March 23, 2004