THREE students from Knutsford Academy represented their region at the British Schools’ National Team Finals.

Millie Marshall, Georgia Ban-Murray and Louis Thomas narrowly missed out on a medal after the North West finished fourth overall in the under 16s age category, less than five points adrift of third-placed South West.

The trio, all in Year 8, competed individually on floor and vault at Fenton Manor, in Stoke on Trent, before performing a group routing together.

“They all had an excellent competition,” said coach Lilian Rees.

“There were no faults, and only the judges’ personal preferences prevented their scores from being higher. That’s always a difficult factor to predict.

“Their attitude is very good; they’re already thinking about what they can improve on for next year.”

Only two schools posted a higher total for their group performance.

Meanwhile the Knutsford Academy team, who progressed to the national finals after winning a regional qualifier before Christmas, classified seventh in the mixed category when solo scores on the two pieces of apparatus were added.

Marshall, Ban-Murray and Thomas train outside of school at Gymfinity, which runs classes at Egerton Youth Club on Mereheath Lane.

Rees added: “The group routine that they performed together was one of the highest-scoring in their section of the competition – they can be really proud of what they’ve achieved.”