A THURROCK netball team did the borough proud when they competed in the national schools championships.

The U14s St Clere's netball team, made up of eight year 9 girls, took part in the weekend's championships where they were the first school from Thurrock to qualify in more than 20 years.

The Stanford-le-Hope students emerged from the event winning the Endeavour Strive award for best sportsmanship.

Eva Allen, Olivia Izzet, Millie Archer, Isabel Mansfield, Aimee Wells, Mya Tomkins, Eve Jupitus-Day and Kaycee-Jay Hooker are coached at St Clere's by Mrs Saywood and Miss Pettican and won through to the regional East of England finals via the district rally held at Hassenbrook Academy in December.

The girls celebrate their success.

From there they competed at the East region event at the Stanborough school in Welwyn Garden City in January where achieving the runners-up slot put them through to the ultimate challenge that took place at Oundle School near Peterborough.

Out of 18 schools there they were the only comprehensive school to qualify. The others were all private schools, so they were up against some very tough competition. 

The Strive Award

They finished in 13th place, making them 13th best school for netball in England out of 1,500 schools that originally entered the competition.

They also came away with the Endeavour Strive award for best sportsmanship of the day.