Young athletes from Selby have put their district on the map after success at the Norwich Union Fun In Athletics Tournament.

The squad of 30 were selected after trials for the most promising primary school athletes in November and proved their talent in a field of 14 areas from the whole of Yorkshire.

The girls' team came second and the boys' team fourth, but their combined score put them second overall behind hosts Sheffield. York had been due to enter a team but withdrew as it came too early in their coaching programme at local schools.

Sportshall athletics is a fun introduction to track athletics and has scaled-down versions of the outdoor events, such as soft javelin, standing long and triple jumps, vertical jump, balance test, target throw and obstacle relays all designed to hone specific abilities that will be essential for full-scale athletics.

Relay races are also ran with Paarlauf races - where pairs run at the same time but one takes a long route and the other a short one on alternate laps - and modified hurdles.

Selby School Sports partnership development manager Andy Clay said: "It was a pleasure to manage such a great bunch of athletes.

"Every team member gave their absolute best and we witnessed so many personal achievements and such fantastic team spirit.

"Sportshall athletics is relatively new to Selby, but now with the team's success and the new clubs we have established at Tadcaster and Selby, we can only go from strength to strength."

The team, who had coaching with Linda Stanton of Tadcaster Athletics club before the event, are now training towards the North Yorkshire Youth Games at Ampleforth College in June.

The Selby squad: Boys: Josh Gannon (Hemingbrough), Dominic Pegg (Brotherton & Bryam), Jack Shackell, Jake Sykes (both Tockwith), Paul Winterburn, C-Jay Baraclough, Matthew Ward (all Riccall), Jake Knowles (Brayton Juniors), Kieran Latham (Barwic Parade), Daniel Otter, Cameron Garner, Jack Bishop (all Barkston Ash), Luke Kadis (Riverside), Jake Potter (North Duffield), Mark Silverwood (Kellington). Girls: Hannah Thornton (South Milford), Jessica Nicholson, Katie Whileman (both Brayton Juniors), Jessica Tait (Hemingbrough), Amy Morton, Sian McEvoy (both Thorpe Willoughby), Megan Savage, Nadine Moore (both Riccall), Iona Halliday, Lucy Goulding (both Brotherton & Bryam), Jenny Whittle, Grace Middleton (both Saxton), Gaby Dixon (Appleton Roebuck), Alice McKinty (Barwic Parade), Francesca James (Kirk Fenton).

Updated: 09:56 Wednesday, February 15, 2006