HYNDBURN Under 13s are national netball champions.

For the first time in their 15 year history, the Hyndburn youngsters beat off all opposition to be crowned the All England Netball Association National Junior Champions at Ipswich last weekend.

"It was a great achievement," said coach Anne Wignall who's 11-strong team consists of players from Hyndburn, Blackburn and Burnley.

"We didn't really expect to win as we had finished runners-up in the regional championship but it was just one of those days where everything went right."

Hyndburn finished behind Oldham and Chester in the Regional finals held in Birmingham in May but they, along with the Wirral, were the quartet who qualified for the National finals. At Ipswich, the girls were split into four groups of five teams with Hyndburn coming out top of the pile in their section on goal average.

They then were drawn to meet old rivals Oldham in the quarter-final and they thought they'd qualified for a semi-final berth with a 12-5 victory.

But Oldham complained that they should have been playing the second placed side in the group and not Hyndburn so all the last eight games had to be played again with different opponents.

But Hyndburn still didn't have a problem beating off the challenge of Sundale from Hampshire 13-6.

The semi-final brought Sutherland from Durham who, in a tight game, the girls just got the better off 11-8.

And then it was of all teams Chester in the final who had beaten Hyndburn in the regional qualifiers and were the favourites.

But Anne said: "It was no problem despite a few tense moments," as they celebrated a 14-7 win to become National Champions.

Picture: Captain Becky Garner shows off the trophy with the team.