DANBY twins Victoria and Amelia Hide have enjoyed success at fencing, only a year after starting to play the sport competitively.

The 11-year-olds finished first and sixth respectively in the under-11 Leon Paul Junior Epee fencing series, which runs from January to December and involves monthly competitions which are hosted nationally.

Points are awarded for each event, then for each individual their series total will be calculated by taking their four best results from the series, adding them together to give their total points.

The girls are active members of the Yorkshire Modern Pentathlon club and represented Yorkshire at the National Championships in 2009. It was through pentathlon they acquired their passion for fencing.

However, they have been unable to find a coach locally – so have to travel to Boston Spa, Easingwold or Bishop Burton for their lessons.

This year will be a challenging time for the girls as they move up an age category to the under-13s, their first competition of the series being in Manchester.

Both girls are members of Glaisdale Pony Club, New Marske Harriers, Loftus Dolphins and when they are not training, they have to fit in homework as they recently moved from Danby Junior School to Eskdale Secondary School.