SIX young talents at Bradford Olympian Trampoline Club have qualified to represent Yorkshire in a national event this September, with coach Lee Hebden hailing it as arguably the greatest achievement in the institution's 38-year history.

Beatrice Teasdale, Dexter Clark-Dunn, Emma Wilkins, Evie Ingram, Izzy Chivers and Leah Hebden will all be competing for the county at the Inter-Regional finals in Sheffield in a few months.

Proud coach Hebden said: "In the context of Covid, I think absolutely this could be considered our biggest achievement.

"We were closed for 14 months and our only teaching in that time was in a park without a trampoline and even coming back, we needed funding from Sport England to help us socially distance classes.

"Pre-Covid, we had six in 2018 and 2019 qualify for this national tournament, but we had a much bigger pool to pick from (around 100 then compared to 70 now), as people left us due to the pandemic.

"We've also had a two-year gap in terms of bringing talent through, so for this to happen now is fantastic."

Fifteen members of the Girlington-based club reached the regional finals in Harrogate, with some unlucky not to qualify for Sheffield.

Hebden said: "One girl came third so just missed out on the top two she needed to qualify, and we had a couple of fourth places too.

"They went through a series of qualifying events ahead of Sheffield, and we actually hosted two in Bradford.

"You needed a minimum qualification score to reach the regional finals in Harrogate, and then we were competing against clubs across Yorkshire.

"They're often run as businesses, with paid staff, whereas we're just volunteers, who give chances to those of all abilities, rather than just focusing on the best kids.

"We want them all to have the same opportunity."

As for that cream of the crop though, the six national qualifiers, Hebden said: "Emma qualified for the event for the first time in 2020, but it got cancelled by Covid, which was so disappointing for her.

"For her to pick herself back up and recommence is amazing, because she could have given up.

"Dexter and Evie were a lot younger when they qualified in 2018, but they're more experienced now, and we hope to have a couple of the group pushing to qualify for the British Championships next year."

It is not all plain sailing for the club, who are based at Bradford Girls Grammar School.

Hebden said: "We're building our numbers back up gradually, but we struggle to sell the idea of volunteering to prospective coaches.

"We actually fund the kids' coaching qualifications for when they're older and stop competing.

"But obviously coaching courses were stopped for two years too, so the whole sport is rebuilding."

Mike Abbott will be at the centre of Bradford Olympian's own rebuild.

The former national competitor set up the club in 1984 and is still there as head coach.

Hebden said: "Mike is vital for the team, and for the sport as a whole, as are two other coaches, Helen Wilkinson and Olivia Wagstaff, who are there all the time.

"Those three in particular are unbelievable for our kids now, and for those who they coach in schools.

"Those who were here previously have a lot to thank them for too, and we've got one girl for example who's now a head of PE at a school, so she's forged a career from the coaching she got here."

You can get involved with or find out more about the club, which teaches mixed abilities for those aged five or over, via their website, https://www.bradfordolympian.co.uk.