Young gymnasts from Wellow School have won their way through to the finals of the British Schools Sports Acrobatics Championships.

They now go forward to the finals in Stoke-on-Trent in May after triumphing in the Southern Regional Championships, held at the Deanery Gymnastics Centre, Southampton.

First to compete for Wellow were Sam Draycott and Molly Batchelor in the U11 mixed pairs competition, dancing to When the Saints go Marching in.

Pleased with their performance, but unable to knock the leaders off, they were delighted to receive their silver medals.

Four pairs of U11 girls were representing Wellow School; Bethany Shaw and Frances MacDonald, Meg Boler and partner Katie Hickson, Jenny Lackie with Bella Russell, and finally Rachel Hayes and Molly Batchelor. All four pairs put in great performances, earning respectable scores. With a high score of 9.05 Rachel and Molly, runners-up last year, managed to go one better and win the gold medal.

After a quick change of leotards, Bethany, Katie, Frances, Jenny, Molly and Rachel were ready to compete together in the U11 sixes.

Third to go and needing to beat 8.15, they completed their lively Charleston routine with no obvious errors. The girls were even happier with the score - 8.35 - but had to wait before finding they had clinched gold.

Wellow School also had a group of year three and four children competing in the sixes. They were Alice Draycott, Rebecca Horley, Kate Horley, Claire Wells, Felicity Shaw and Kate MacDonald.

Grinning from ear to ear, they stepped onto the floor to perform their group routine. Although unable to challenge their older school mates, they enjoyed every minute of their first competition.

With a total of ten medals between them, the gymnasts returned to school with pride, but the work doesn't stop here - as gold medal winners Rachel, Molly, Bethany, Katie, Frances and Jenny have all qualified for the National Finals to be held at Fenton Manor, Stoke-on-Trent in May.