Thirteen athletes represented the island at the British Baton Twirling Sports Association National Championships.

The annual event, held in Crawley, West Sussex, saw Emma Challenor of Rushen Twirlers chosen for the England squad at the European Cup in Dublin in July after coming third in the freestyle.

A Manx Baton Twirling Sports Association spokesman said: ’Wehad a very successful weekend at the British National Championships 2018 with some great results and wonderful memories. Each athlete should be very proud to have represented the Isle of Man in what was a very high standard of baton twirling.’

The island’s athletes were from Rushen Twirlers and Northern Spirit Twirlers.

It was the first time Maisie Belcher-Smith, Caleb Corfield, Tegwen Corfield and Kira Corfield had competed at the four-day event.

On the first day of the competition, Tegwen Corfield, Kira Corfield and Victoria Slevin made the finals in the senior beginner class solo twirl and Georgia Mitchell took fourth with a no drop routine in the senior novice final.

On day two, Maisie Belcher-Smith was third in dance twirl out of a class of 23 and fifth in poise and personality for tiny tots. Other results: Faiyth Challenor, fourth, junior 1 dance twirl novice; Emily Challenor, sixth, senior intermediate dance twirl; Hannah Lane, seventh, senior plus novice dance twirl; Aalish Watterson, eighth, juvenile poise; Robyn Corfield, 11th, dance twirl; Hannah Lane, 10th, poise and personality.

On day three, Hannah Lane was third in Senior Novice Fancy Strut.

Other results: Aalish Watterson, eighth, Juvenile Fancy Strut; Emily Challenor, sixth, Senior 1 intermediate fancy strut; Tegwen Corfield, ninth, senior plus beginner fancy strut; Emily Challenor, fourth, senior 1 intermediate 2 baton; Hannah Lane, seventh, senior beginner 2 baton. Victoria Slevin made it to the finals of Fancy Senior 1 beginner.

Anyone interested in joining a baton twirling classs should contact Manx Baton Twirling Sports Association chair Sam Mitchell on [email protected]