USK Valley Trampoline Club is celebrating after a fantastic start to the competitive season.

Members took part in the Welsh Schools Trampoline Championships at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff and came away with an impressive haul of medals and trophies.

The club had three worthy champions at the event: Ella Tutton (Beginners), representing her school, St Julian's; Rowan Peres Da Costa (Novice), representing her school, Caerleon; and Millie Forrest (Intermediate), also representing St Julian's. All competed so well to win their groups.

Usk Valley also took the second and third places in the beginners section with Caitlin Lea, of Bassaleg School, in second place and Ciara McKenna (home schooled) in third, with Ellie Littlefield, of St Julian's in reserve.

In addition, the top five places in the Intermediate section were taken by Usk Valley members - the top four all from St Julian's.

Evie Forrest came second, with Evie McLoughlin in third place.

Together with Eleri Davies in 4th and winner Millie, these four also took the team trophy for their school, St Julian's.

In addition, these girls won (for the second year in a row for St Julian's - and now at a higher level) the perpetual trophy for the highest scoring team of the whole competition - usually won by elite performers.

St Julian's will be rightly so proud of this talented team, as are the club.

All four will now go forward to the British Schools Zonal Championships, where the team will again compete - the top three also bouncing as individuals - with Eleri as first reserve against the top three best performers of the British regions in the hope of securing a spot in the British Schools Finals to be held in March.

Rowan Peres Da Costa, who won one of the largest groups of the day with 30 competitors, also goes through to the Zonal round.

Esme Jaros Reynolds also performed well to gain first reserve in this group.

Also through to the British event (to be held in January) are Ellion Gipson (Novice), of Nant y Cwm School, 2nd, and Cody Davies, also 2nd (Intermediate), of Greenhill, and Tara Bevan, representing Abersychan School (Disability Novice).

The club had many other high placings, such as taking all the top eight in beginners with some good performances and, in Beginners, Novice and Intermediate, gained all fifths with Caitlin Joyce, Emily Lewis, Seren Cheriton and Mason and Bethany Whalley.

Many really promising competitors did make costly mistakes on the day, however, resulting in much lower positions than their ability level. But all in all, some great results and a good day for both the club and the schools.

Usk Valley Trampoline Club runs sessions locally at Newport Centre and Pontypool - all enquiries to Barbara who can be contacted on 07952 584240.