YOUNG gymnasts have once again excelled at a top junior championship.

Walton-le-Dale Arts College, which includes pupils from across East Lancashire, starred at the British Schools National Finals.

Two teams went to Stoke as representatives of the North West Squad. The Under 16s Mixed team made up of Nicole Reeder, George Westwood, Danny Leeming and Frazer Drever teamed up with Knutsford High School to win bronze against all other home regions, the Scottish and Welsh champions.

Not to be outdone, the Boys Under 16s team of Dominic Wilson, Liam Hodgkinson and Aaron Pennington took bronze in the individual school competition – narrowly missing silver by 0.2 of a mark having gained the second best scores in vault, floor and group categories. Dominic Wilson was third overall as an individual.

With the exception of Frazer and Aaron, who are in Year Eight, the team are in Year 10 at Walton-le-Dale and have another year in which to compete in this age category.

This is the second time that the u16 boys have taken bronze in the national finals in the last two years but is a first for the mixed team.