FIVE talented students from Malton School have been selected to take part in the England Netball Performance Pathway programme.

Niamh Creber, Maddie Craggs and Lauren Gregory will join the Pathway’s Satellite Academy, while Olive Ferguson and Neve Leggett have been moved up into the Pathway’s County Academy.

The girls attended a trials day in York and had to be pre-selected to attend via a nomination from either their club or their school. All five train with Malton Netball Club with coaches Alison Sellars and Tricia Martin.

The trial was attended by about 230 girls and this year the county academy has only taken 40 girls from the whole of North Yorkshire.

Steph Hopkin, the school’s PE teacher, said: “It is a mark of the girls’ dedication, commitment and talent that they have achieved these heights. It is a fantastic opportunity as they will receive year-round training and participate in lots of competitions and formal match play.”

In addition to this recent success, Olive, Neve and Niamh have been playing in the North Yorkshire county clubs’ netball league where they have qualified to progress through to the regional rounds to play teams from across Yorkshire – Olive in the under 16s; Neve and Niamh in the under 14s.

Olive, a Year 11 pupil, said: “I play goal defence and have been playing with Malton Netball Club for three years. Each year I’ve gone to the trials day and been disappointed, but it’s made me work harder and now I’ve got in, I feel like I’ve succeeded.”