A TEENAGER has trained with a top American paintball squad.

Tracy Hollifield, 15, who plays for the Durham City Dragons, was invited to train with Sacramento XSV.

Tracy, from Darlington, joined more than 50 paintball players in Manchester where the American team put them through drills and exercises.

"Training and doing the drills with XSV gave me a lot of confidence," she said.

Tracy won her place at the training weekend when she was awarded player of the day by referees at a regional competition this summer. She has also been named most valued player by the Durham team.

"One of my best games was last year when we played Leeds," she said.

"It came down to one on one, I was the last player in for Durham and we won the game."

Tracy is a year ten pupil at St Michael's School, Billingham, her father Andy manages the team and they are currently in division four of the league.