A DRINGHOUSES girl has become a national champion at the age of only 12.

Alison Chase (pictured above) teamed up with British international player Simon Bird for the mixed doubles at the British Petanque Championships in Devon and they won the title.

Alison, a pupil at Millthorpe School and who plays for a Boston Spa team in the John Smith's York and District League, struck up a scratch playing partnership with Bird last year when he was seeking someone to join him in the mixed doubles.

They went on the reach the quarter-finals and at this year's championships played at a venue near Newton Abbot he asked if she would be his playing partner again.

Her parents Sam and Marilyn Chase are petanque players, her father also being an umpire.

"Simon has played petanque for Britain and although he is obviously in a different class to Alison as a player he had no hesitation in asking her if she would partner her again this year," said her father. "And he gave her due credit by letting her have the winning shot for the championship.

"She is properly registered as a member of the Boston Crown club and has played in league matches this season, though not every week."

There were 46 teams in the mixed doubles, including Chris and Pete Best, of Wigginton, Leeds couple Alan and Sue Swift, of Boston Crown club, and Fulford's Don Jackson partnering Jane Herrick, of Leicester. They all reached the last 24.

Angie Gaughan, Pete Best (both Wigginton), Sam and Marilyn Chase, and Alan Swift (all Boston Crown) qualified for the main competition in the singles championship.

sport@ycp.co.uk