TWO teens from Yarm are celebrating wins at a national and international netball championships.

Yarm School students Kaia Harte,16, and Poppy Gratton, 15, represented the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, respectively, in the recent U17 Challenge Cup and U17 Netball European Championships.

Both girls were able to play away from England's netball team as a result of a parent's heritage.

Miss Harte, playing for Republic of Ireland in the U17 Challenge Cup, went up against Isle of Man, Malta and Gibraltar, in one game for three consecutive days.

Her team won the Challenge Cup and Miss Harte was awarded the accolade of player of the tournament.

Miss Harte said: "I am so proud to have represented The Republic of Ireland at the U17 Challenge. It felt amazing to walk away winners.

Scotland's Miss Gratton competed in the U17 European Championship, which were held at the Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre in South Wales, where she competed with England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Switzerland.

The Scots won bronze overall, following two wins against Switzerland and Northern Ireland.

Miss Gratton said: "It was an amazing experience to represent Scotland at the European Championships. I couldn't be prouder of my team or our performance! It's amazing that Kaia was picked as player of the tournament for Ireland in the Challenge Cup, she played so well.

"Both myself and Kaia are very grateful to our coaches for getting us to this level."

Miss Harte added: "I am also happy Poppy made it to the Championship with Scotland, she played incredibly."

Yarm School headmaster Huw Williams said: "Yarm School celebrates so much success across many sports.

"I am delighted for Kaia and Poppy. To be chosen to represent your country is an honour and they have done themselves and Yarm School proud."

In January 2019, Yarm School's U16 and U19 netball squads qualified for the National Schools Netball Competition, the biggest schools' competition in the netball calendar, where they represented the North East at Stanborough School in Welwyn Garden City.

The U11 team followed suit and were crowned regional winners.