A TEAM of talented trampolinists from Haslingden High School were crowned British champions.
The school’s intermediate U14s team competed for the third year in succession at the national schools’ final this year held in Belfast.
And they were delighted to go one better than their previous two second places by winning the trophy.
The usual team of 14-year-olds Max Constant and Ben Wilson and 13-year-olds James Peacock and Jack Waters, had to be changed slightly because James, who is also an accomplished gymnast, was in Australia to see the Commonwealth Games.
James was replaced by Chi-Ho Tang, 13, and when Jack messed up his set routine, which involves 10 moves in succession, Chi-Ho performed well and so his score counted.
Then in the voluntary, where the students select their own routine, Jack did better while Chi-Ho struggled.
As a result, scores from all of the four competitors contributed to Haslingden High School being named the country’s best.
Max’s scores also counted in the individual competition where he finished second.
Ben said: “It was an amazing experience. We flew in and arrived on the Friday, but didn’t get a chance to practice until 30 minutes before the competition.”
PE teacher Erika Wilson said: “We had never been there before and there were a lot of road works and we arrived at the competition with just minutes to spare.
“What I am most pleased about is that scores from all four of the trampolinists in the intermediate team contributed to them winning.”
The school also won a place for the novice team, but with Chi-Ho competing in the intermediate section; just three students competed meaning every score counted
Josh Davies, Josh Lowthion and Harry Sneddon, all 12, formed the team and finished a very respectable fourth in their first time in the national final.
Josh Lowthion also contracted food poisoning the night before and so had no sleep and was very ill, but he still performed both his routines.
He said: “It was very hard and when the competition was over I just went back to the hotel and fell asleep until we had to leave for the plane.”
Mrs Wilson said: “I am very proud of how well all the students performed. Because the younger team has already had a place in the final as novices, they will now have to go forward next year and compete as intermediates.
“If the current intermediate team compete again they will now have to go into the elite class, but that is open to participants aged up to 19.
“We do also have some other students who are showing talent so we should be able to have another novice team next year.”
To fund the trip, students bag packed at Tesco in Haslingden.