Bicester gymnasts have taken part in their first competition out of the area, and surprised themselves by making it into the top four.

Two teams from Bicester and District Gymnastics Club were invited to join the Lincolnshire Gymnastics Association for its invitational team championships in Gainsborough on November 17.

Neither the coaches nor the girls knew what standards they would be competing against.

The club's senior gymnasts, Natasha Efthimiou, 12, Laura Honey, 15, Anneke White, 15, and Vicky Clayton, 16, picked up a joint silver medal with Lincoln. The other team, made up of Sarah Clayton, 13, Leanne Blossom, 12, and Holly and Beth Edmundson, both 15, won fourth place.

Club coach Glenn Gamotis said: "Both teams were nervous and just happy to have been invited, and were using the day to gain experience."

He said that because other teams were using more complicated moves in their routines his teams had resigned themselves to last place.

But he added: "Because it was a team event where one girl may have struggled, her team-mates could lift the score by doing a good routine.

"That is what happened and the results were unexpected, but graciously received."