THREE youngsters from the City of Canterbury Rhythmic Gymnastics Club have been called into the Great Britain national team for the first time.

Wincheap Primary School pupil Jael Gore, 10, and Simon Langton student Catherine Holness, 11, were selected for the seven-strong World Class Start National Squad and will link up with other girls from clubs across the UK.

They will begin their international careers with a training camp next month.

Canterbury High student Joanna Matcham, 14, was also successful in the trials and was called into the GB World Class Potential Squad for juniors.

There she will link up with Canterbury team-mate and St Anselm’s student Kezi Gore who has been in the national set-up for three years.

The pair will undergo a training camp at the end of the month as the squad prepare for the Junior European Championships which will be held in Italy in June. The girls will train at the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall, Shropshire, every two weeks until the final squad for the championships is selected.

Canterbury coach Anni Ahmavaara said: "Having four girls in the national team is the club’s best achievement in competitive terms to date."