Some parents moan about having to collect their kids from football practice one night a week. But others will go to great lengths and make huge sacrifices to see that their children get the most from their chosen sport. Often, this devotion creates a strong partnership, as Helen Mead finds out.

LEANNE MCGEACHY was only two when she joined a majorettes marching band at the school near her home in Fagley.

Not big enough to get to grips with a baton, she held flags and banners.

Having mastered baton twirling, she entered her first competition aged six. It was in the Isle of Man and the whole family went along.

Up until this time, Leanne's dad Jimmy had remained on the sidelines. It was her mum, Sandra, who took her to practice. And it was Sandra who persuaded Jimmy to go along.

He says: "My wife was pestering me to go and see her, so I did." Leanne joined another troupe, at a time when the British Baton Twirling Sports Association decided to move away from the majorette role and concentrate more on twirling.

Jimmy, 50, continued to go along, ferrying his daughter to competitions up and down the country.

At one competition, in Portsmouth, the father-of-four decided that the team needed tracksuits to distinguish them from other children.

He set about fundraising, and from there his involvement grew, as he helped not only Leanne, but lent his support to clubs throughout Bradford.

Jimmy has accompanied Leanne to international competitions in Holland, France and Italy, where she represented England.

Sitting beside a cabinet full of trophies, Leanne, now 20, says: "I could not have done so well without his support. As a child you don't really appreciate it until you see how much money, time and effort your parents put in.

"When you get older you respect them for that."

Jimmy's sterling efforts on behalf of baton twirlers in Bradford led to him being appointed to the board of the BBTSA.

He had been regional chairman for the past eight years and chairman of Bradford Baton Twirlers for eight years. Two of his young charges have been picked to represent their country in the world championships in America.

lBradford Baton Twirlers train at Southroyd School, Pudsey, on Monday and Wednesday evenings. For more information on the troupe and on other troupes in Bradford contact Jimmy on Bradford 626073 or Sheila Low on 775829.

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