AN 18-YEAR-OLD student from Ferndown has won a place representing England in the World Baton Twirling Championships.

Ella Burch, who studies dance at Bournemouth and Poole College, took part in the England Team World Selection Finals and will now go on to the world championships in Switzerland in April.

She will be taking part in three individual events: Solo 1 Baton, Rhythmic Twirl and Super X Strut, and four team events: Junior Dance Team, Senior Dance Team, Senior Twirl Team and Twirling Corp.

Ella said: “I’m really looking forward to competing against some of the best twirlers in the world, mainly from the USA.

She added: “Some of these American twirlers have many world titles to their name, so this is a massive honour for me.

“I will be going to the World Championships with an open mind, to achieve the best results that I possibly can.

“However, my main aim is to go out and perform the routine to the best of my ability, which is a huge reward in itself.”

Ella says that as baton twirling is an unrecognised sport, twirlers are not sponsored and therefore have to pay for their own England tracksuits, costumes and travel.

She is now looking for sponsorship ahead of the competition.

For more information, contact Ella, by emailing: ella-burch@ hotmail.com