Ribble Valley Netball Club will be going for gold when they take part in the national championships this weekend.

The talented under 16s team have qualified for the prestigious tournament for the second successive year.

The club will be looking to better last year's performance where they were beaten finalists.

Ribble Valley reached the national finals -- which will be held at the Manchester Velodrome -- after qualifying from the tough Northern section.

Ribble Valley made the finals, along with Burnley Netball Club, at the expense of Hyndburn and Darwen.

Coach Sara Thompson is hoping her side can learn from experience of last year's finals and do even better this time around.

She said: "For the team to qualify from the Northern section is a remarkable achievement in itself. The North is regarded as the strongest area in the country so we are pleased to have made it through from such a tough group."

These are good times for the club which has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with.

The under 16s won their division and gained promotion in the Blackburn Netball League while a number of players are in the England High Performance squad.

Holly Landless leads a clutch of talented youngsters after she was selected for England under 17s trials and has reached the final round of trials when the squad will be whittled down from 20 to 14.

Holly is also in the England High Performance squad along with Jenna Woodcock, Anna Rowlandson, Alice Waterhouse and Amy Forster.

Sara said: "I am delighted for the girls to get this recognition but especially for Holly. She has been with this club for a long time and we wish her all the best in the final trials next month."

The club also has a very good under 13s squad which is hoping to reach its national championships in the new year. Sara is confident her team can do well next week and believes her side are one of four who could taste glory.

She added: "The finals are very tough. Not because you are up against some of the best teams in the country but also because you play so many games in such a short space of time.

"The girls was devastated to get knocked out in the semi finals last year. It was down to the fact that they weren't good enough it was simply because they were so tired. This time, we have a bigger squad and I think it is between us, Oldham, Bury and Parkside from Birmingham."

Ribble Valley have been boosted by the fact that they have beaten championship rivals Bury twice in recent months to underline their own hopes. Whatever happens in Manchester at the weekend, Sara is determined her side is going to enjoy themselves.

"There is a mixture and excitement and nervousness but the main thing is for us to go out and enjoy ourselves."