THOLTHORPE youngster Laura Birkinshaw gave away two years to some of her rivals but still won gold at the English Schools' Under-15s Badminton Tournament held in the East Midlands.

The 13-year-old Easingwold School pupil beat Felicity Porter, of Sussex, 11-6 11-4 in the final to round off a successful year.

In this season alone, which started in October, Birkinshaw has won the silver medal at the Midlands ESBA, North East ESBA and South ESBA competitions.

Last season she won the Under-13s Nationals, and for two years has regularly represented Yorkshire at both under-14 and under-15 levels.

The York Railway Institute club player, who trains in Leeds with top coach Harry Jarvis, was competing at the Nottingham Open today.

Updated: 11:01 Saturday, December 28, 2002