Henry Beaufort School, Winchester, came away with a bronze medal from this year's event at Stoke-on-Trent.

The school has always had an excellent reputation for gymnastics and a long record of team and individual champions.

This year's team maintained that high standard with their eighth consecutive appearance in the National finals. The six boys: Dave Moore, Stuart Wilson, Alex Honess, Tom Varley, Duncan Bray and Michael Goodman performed on the vault first.

Their scores were boosted by an awesome vault from Dave Moore and a spectacular performance from young Michael Goodman in his first big competition.

The second discipline was floor, in which Dave was again faultless and Alex Honess produced a personal best.

Finally the group had to perform together in a co-ordinated group sequence. The timing went well and their score given placed them second, two points behind Newcastle Grammar from the North region.

When the final scores were announced, the team were thrilled to find that they had finished third, gaining bronze medals, only 0.42 of a point behind Ivybridge Sports College from the South West.

"All the boys will be going back to Stoke in May to perform in the finals of the floor and vault," said coach Fran Arnold.

"They're determined to produce some more exciting performances and finish with a good result."