Girls twirl their way to finals

ASHFORD's Scenic Twirlers have glitzed their way through the regional finals of the British Baton Twirling Sports Association.

No fewer than seven of the star-spangled youngsters, who train every week at Singleton Village Hall, have won places in the Nationals to be held in May in Portsmouth.

Their trainer Natasha Duncan, of Acorn Close on Park Farm, was thrilled with their performance at the weekend in Maidstone.

She said: "I am proud of them all. They really did well and some of the girls got really great firsts with their routines."

Natasha's daughter Chelsea was the star performer of the event and little Ella Murphy, who is just five, stunned the judges with her ability and is a great tip for the future. But Natasha has been warning her young proteges that the competition in Portsmouth will be fierce.

"They have done well to get this far but when they get to the nationals the best twirlers in the UK will be there and the competition will be very tough," she said.

The girls who have won through to the finals are: Chelsea Duncan, 12, Shannel King, eight, Stephanie Smith, 12, Kayleigh Lawrence, 12, Sam Archer, 12 , Ella Murphy, five and eight-year-old Georgia Atkinson.

• THE Stourettes majorettes from Ashford also did well in Maidstone. Melanie Pegg and Chelsea Prior won through to the nationals in Portsmouth and will represent the Stourettes there in May.