HOCKEY-playing pupils are celebrating after becoming the best-performing state school in a national competition.

Thirsk School's under-16 boys team represented the North in the National Schools Championship at the Lee Valley Hockey Stadium at the Olympic Park after being crowned regional champions in February.

A school spokesman said while the team had not won the overall competition, it had impressed by outperforming all the other state schools.

The success builds on a string of achievements in hockey for Thirsk School, with the same team being placed fifth in the country at the National Indoor Hockey Championships earlier this year, and Luke Brownlee, the team captain, being selected for the England Under-16 squad.

The school's head of PE, John Wharton, said it had been a "fantastic achievement", and highlighted the dedication of the team's coach, Trevor Bosomworth.

Headteacher Stuart Mason said: "We are enormously proud of our students who are competing at the national finals again, as they did indoors earlier in the year.

"It is a fantastic opportunity to test themselves against the best in the Olympic stadium. We are very grateful for the sponsorship we have received from local businesses and Hambleton District Council."

The costs of the team’s travel, accommodation, kit and competition fees have been funded by Dales of Thirsk, Redcastle Homes, Herbs Unlimited, John Smith and Sons Coaches, Hambleton District Council, National Tube Stockholders and Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers.