Keighley's new basketball team -- the Wildcats -- are going from strength to strength with a string of victories to their name.

The team, which is based at Keighley Leisure Centre, is playing in the Bradford Summer League and has beaten a string of experienced teams.

"We have got off to a superb start in the league beating some tough opposition," said coach Robert Woodhead.

"The team has done brilliantly even though we have only been together for a short time and I'm really pleased with their progress. We're hoping to enter more competitions in the future."

Robert, 19, became enthusiastic about the game after taking holidays in the USA and when his former coach was leaving decided to take coaching examinations and promote the game.

Now he takes three coaching sessions each weekend with Under-14's from 10-11.30 on Saturday mornings followed by Under-16's from 11.30-1pm. Open age coaching sessions are held from 5.40 - 7.40 on Sundays. The Keighley squad launched their league campaign with a thrilling 86-85 victory over Horsforth and followed up with wins against Nottingley 93-55 and Leeds Hasra 73-19. They were beaten 111-54 by Rowthorp in the Yorkshire Cup and last Sunday went down 101-76 to West Bowling in the league.

The team is - Back (from left): David Dooley, Philip Cockburn, Richard Johns, Stuart Culliford, Alastair Milner, Steve Valentine, Anthony Kurasz, Simon Trimble, Jessica Emmett. Front: Malcolm Hollindrake, Robert Kennedy, Robert Woodhead, Scott Longden, Adam Crossley, Andy Birkbeck, Seb Wienkamp.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.