A NETBALL player from Barry has become one of four players from the new Cardiff and Vale College Netball Academy to receive call-ups for county level and above.

Cardiff and Vale College’s Netball Academy, which has only been running since September, is designed to combine first-class coaching and sports facilities with offering students academic or vocational qualifications.

Heather Bowkett, a 17-year-old PE and IT A-Level student from Barry, has been called up to represent the Cardiff and Vale County U18 netball team.

“I’m really pleased to be selected – it’s fun," she said.

"I’ve been playing in County for the past four years so I play outside of the College as well. I’d like to pursue netball as a career.

“The Netball Academy is really good and it’s great fun – the coach and the facilities are brilliant.”

Bowkett joins fellow students Essence Gayle and Harriet Powell in being selected for the squad, while Megan Jones has received a call-up to play in the U19 Severn Stars Nova Academy – the next step towards Wales U21s.

The academy, which trains and plays its home games at Cardiff City House of Sport, is coached by Welsh international player Kyra Jones, who has represented Wales at the Netball World Cup and Commonwealth Games.