When Dartmouth Amateur Athletic Club U13s team members Ellie Crane and Hope Jones were chosen to represent Devon in the final of the South West Indoor Sportshall League in February, they did not expect they would be going to the UK final in Man­chester.

However, together with 10 other athletes from Exeter, Plymouth, North Devon, Tavi­stock and Torbay Ath­letic Clubs, they did what seemed the im­possible and beat Avon, the reigning county champions, unbeaten since 2007.

And so on the last weekend in April, Ellie and Hope travelled to Manchester for the big event.

Eleven winning under 13 girls teams, representing the UK regions, took part as well as teams for under 13 boys, under 15s boys and under 15s girls.

Over the entire weekend nearly 500 athletes competed.

The event, which was held at Man­chester City Indoor Sports Arena, was formally opened via video message by current GB athletes Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Martyn Rooney and world junior gold medalist, Morgan Lake.

With coach Paul Crutchley from City of Plymouth Athletic Club, the Devon girls fought hard in eight different events and finally finished fifth with 1086 points, only 30 points short of third place.

All in all, it was a memorable day and one for the girls to be proud of.