A KENDAL youngster has fought off fierce competition from all over the North West to scoop three awards at a prestigious dance competition.

Catherine Cribbens, who attends the Tocari School of Dance in Kendal, won the Phillip Bowers Memorial Trophy for solo modern dance and won first place for a junior classic al duet with her younger sister Laura. Catherine was also awarded the Peggy Glen trophy, an award given to the most promising dancer at the 2007 Nelson Festival.

The two-day event, now in its 60th year, took place at the Pendle Hippodrome Theatre in Colne, Lancashire, and attracted youngsters from 11 different dance schools as far afield as Manchester and St Helens.

The nine-year-old dance enthusiast, who attends Dean Gibson School, was one of 200 dancers taking part in nearly 800 performances ranging from classical dance to modern ballet in front of a 200-strong audience.

Adjudicator Jill Redford said: "Considering the amount of professional schools that compete in the festival, this is a great achievement and well done to Catherine."

Her mother, Lisa Cribbens said: "I was very proud of her and we were definitely not expecting to win the most promising award so it was a nice surprise.