In hockey, Nyssa McNeil has completed a remarkable comeback to junior international hockey after illness.

McNeil has been selected for England under-16, along with fellow Eastbourne club-mates Carolyn Perry and Sophy Mills.

The 15-year-old Seaford College pupil, from Hooe, missed the first 14 weeks of the season with glandular fever. McNeil, who was in the squad last year, is stunned to get another chance.

She said: "I'm surprised to get in so quickly. I was afraid I'd miss out. The virus wiped me out. Some days I was fine, other days I felt so low and had no energy. It was depressing.

"I was extremely bored as I had to spend a lot of time resting in bed. I just wanted to be well and back playing. I was told not to try too much too soon and missed the first few England trials but eventually started playing in January and worked very hard on my fitness. I still am.

"I do three 30-minute runs a week to build up my stamina on top of hockey training. I only started playing again in January and am still not back to full fitness and as sharp as I'd like to be. But I'm glad I've done enough to impress the selectors. It feels brilliant to have made it."

Her head teacher Toby Mullins, who also coaches her at national league club Trojans (Southampton) said: "Nyssa's done extremely well to get back involved with the England set up so soon. She's got a lot of potential as far as England is concerned and is a very skilful player with a lot of talent, but it all depends on her attitude."

The squad has been split in two. Nyssa and Carolyn take part in next month's Home Internationals, while Sophy will be involved in the European Youth Trophy at Lyon, France.

Sophy said: "I feel really pleased. I didn't think I'd get in. They dropped three girls from the final squad and I thought I'd be one of them. When I got the letter I just screamed, I couldn't believe it. Going to the Europeans is a real bonus. My club set-up has helped me."

Goalkeeper Rocca Gutteridge, from St Leonards (Mayfield), has been selected for the England under-18s, with Horsted Keynes twins Frances and Christina Houlsop. Frances was also chosen for the under-21s.

Sussex under-16s manager and south selector Linda McNeil, mother of Nyssa, said: 'There's an absolutely superb development plan going at the moment and these girls show it's working."

England under-16 squad members Sophy Mills, Carolyn Perry and Nyssa McNeil helped Eastbourne, representing Sussex, to finish third in the South Clubs Under-19s Championships at Woking.

The team, which also included twins Shemane and Sabreena Murtagh, missed out on reaching the national finals but were the only side unbeaten.

Team: Amy Burnage, Laura Robinson-Brown, Siobhan Henn, Jade Redfearn, Sophy Mills, Nyssa McNeil, Shemane and Sabreena Murtagh, Emma Nelkson, Rosa Beer, Carolyn Perry, Annabelle Rackham, Alex Deery and Hannah Collins.

In Rugby, Craig Ivemy has been named third reserve for England under-15s in the Home Countries Schools Cross Country International in Scotland.

Craig, from Ringmer, was selected for the event in a fortnight's time after finishing a sparkling 11th on his All England Schools Championship debut at Parliament Hill Fields on Saturday.

He said: "I'm standing by for England and I thought the atmosphere at the All England was great. I couldn't have asked for more. I had been hoping for a place in the top 20 but as it was my first time I really didn't know what to expect.

"I now plan a few weeks away from racing, unless I'm called up for the English team. I will then be looking for some 1,500m and 3,000m runs on the track. I need to work on my speed and may do some 800m events."

Junior international Tom Hopkins, from Lewes Tertiary, was the next highest placed Sussex runner, finishing 16th in the senior boys' race. Hopkins has kept racing this winter down to a minimum and missed the Sussex Clubs and Schools Championships through illness.

It was his final year at the All England and Tom was eager to go out in style. He was 24th in his first appearance in 1996 but failed to make the top 50 for the next three years. Darryl Hards, also at Lewes Tertiary, had a fine run in his first year at senior level to finish 43rd. The former Dorothy Stringer High School was 18th in the junior race in 1997.

Jack Vail (Downlands), who also missed the County Schools event through illness, led the county's intermediates home in 27th. But hopes of an intermediate team medal was dashed by the withdrawals of Andrew Murdoch (Tanbridge House, Horsham), Matt Farmer (Hazelwick, Crawley) and Bryan Brett (Hampden Park, Eastbourne).

Joe Stephenson (Cardinal Newman, Hove), the Sussex champion, dropped out feeling unwell during the race and his team was 13th. The only Sussex girl to gain a place in the top 50 at the Championships was Hayley Stanton. The Ardingly College pupil was 23rd in her first year as an intermediate after finishing sixth last year in the juniors.

The intermediate girls were the only Sussex team to win a prize, taking the R. Brown Trophy for the first to get eight runners home. Alice Coutinho (Lewes Priory) was her team's eighth finisher in 159th.

Sussex's senior boys were seventh and the intermediate girls tenth in team events. The intermediate and junior boys were 13th, while junior girls finished 19th and senior girls 24th. There were 43 competing counties.

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