Pegasus Trampoline Club's Natasha Wood has become one of only nine girls in Britain to qualify for the British Championships in the under-19 female category.

Stuart Watson

Pegasus Trampoline Club's Natasha Wood has become one of only nine girls in Britain to qualify for the British Championships in the under-19 female category.

Competing in the British Schools qualifying event at Bournemouth, Wood took first place in both of the first two qualifying rounds before overcoming stiff competition from those already in the national squad to take the bronze medal in grade one.

The third place finish means that Wood has become the only trampolinist in Ipswich to have ever qualified for the British Championships four years in a row.

The 17 year-old will now be aiming to improve upon her 18th place finish at last years Championships at Birmingham's National Indoor Arena this July.

Wood has reached the finals by finishing second at the regional finals in Harlow and winning the zone final in Coventry.

Father and gymnast coach Andy Wood said: “I think this year the aim has got to be to break into the top 15 and then next year hopefully the top ten and the national squad.”

Wood was not the only Pegasus Club member to take part in the British Schools competition, with four of her club mates also performing well on the south coast.

In grade two, Georgina Mowles made her debut at under-17 level alongside club mate Maxine Rivers.

The pair both completed two strong routines, with only minor errors, to finish midway through their groups, missing out on British Championships by only 1.6 and 1.1 respectively.

Mowles did qualify to compete in the championships last year, so is confident of achieving the score again this season.

In the over 19 age group, Becca Harvey also completed two excellent routines and scored 51.6 to finish 13th and qualify for the British Championships.

Charlotte Webb was last to compete and she also booked her place in the British Championships with an overall score of 80.5 and outstanding first place.

This was only the second competition of the 2008 season and there will be three more competitions in which Mowles and Rivers can compete to try and achieve the qualifying score for the Championships.