A SPORTS mad girl has shown she can beat the boys at their own game after being voted young player of the year for her local Cricket team, writes Jennifer Stocks.

Jenny Coupe, pictured, aged 19, from Inglewight Road, Longridge is the only girl to play for Chipping Cricket Club who compete in the Boddingtons Village Cricket League.

And her pace bowling was so impressive she took 15 wickets last season and this year has already taken five wickets in three games striking fear into the hearts of batsmen!

She also plays on the Leyland and Farington ladies team.

Jenny thinks that when it comes to cricket women can measure up to men .

She said: "The girls can be just as good as the lads because it's not about size or strength but your talent and skill."

Her cricket hero is England fast-bowler Darren Gough who she says is her inspiration and she tries to copy his action.

During the winter months she swaps her cricket pads for soccer boots to play for Preston North End ladies football team and was leading goal scorer for the team last season scoring 24 goals in 13 games.

Jenny discovered her passion for sport at a young age and has been playing football and cricket since primary school.

Love of sport seems to run in the family as her mum played hockey and her dad was a runner and her brother and sisters play cricket and football.

Even little sister Megan, aged five, is already showing signs of carrying on the family sporting tradition as she loves to watch them play and kicks footballs around the garden!

Jenny's favourite football teams are PNE and Manchester United and she admires national women's team player, Mia Hamm, who was nominated footballer of the year.

Jenny is a second year student in Lancaster where she is doing a degree in sports studies and sports history. After her course she hopes to become a PE teacher.

Her ambition is to play cricket for the England women's team and go on tour to places such as the West Indies.

She has already been involved with the Lancashire ladies cricket team so who knows what the future holds for this sporting girl wonder!