A TALENTED baton twirling 10-year-old has been crowned national champion in her discipline.
Maisie Ion started attending classes with the Kendal Majorettes when she was only one-year-old.
She began baton twirling when she was five and just last year was chosen to train with the England juvenile baton team. She now trains every month with the squad in Luton.
Jackie Hall, Maisie's mum, said that her daughter could 'probably twirl a baton before she could walk'.
"She's a natural at the dancing and everything really," she said. "She's a real hard worker and trains really hard."
Maisie, who goes to St Mark’s CE Primary School in Natland, practises twirling for at least an hour a day at home as well as attending regular training sessions throughout the week.
To get to the British Baton Twirling Sports Association nationals she competed in a regional competition before Christmas, followed by an areas competition in February where she was placed fifth.
The first ten placings from each area qualified to compete nationally. Following the area competition Maisie worked hard with her coach to perfect her routine.
Despite not being the most confident of children, Maisie performed in front of hundreds of people for the competition.
"She's full of energy and she does not give up," Ms Hall said. "I do not think she could believe she had won actually, she was quite shocked."
"She's done really well."
Maisie will also be competing against other European members of the World Baton Twirling Federation in the Netherlands in June, alongside some of the other girls who train with the England squad.
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