DYSON Perrins Academy pupil Emma Witherford has secured a Great Britain junior ladies’ team place in the European Freestyle Championships.

The determined West Malvern 16-year-old shone at selection heats.

Witherford also claimed another GB team spot in squirt boating for next September’s competition near Bratislava, Slovakia.

Despite only doing freestyle paddling for around 18 months, she had finished second in the British Freestyle Championships.

The European team trials took her best two heat results and a double second placed Witherford runner-up behind world bronze medallist Kim Aldred.

At the first trials in Hurley, Berkshire, the teenager was fifth.

However, she made no mistake in Nottingham with a morning personal best of 490 points from her two top runs.

In challenging afternoon conditions, Witherford was second on 95 behind Aldred’s 245, well ahead of her main rival.

The Joanna Brown Trust has helped the Wychavon Kayak and Canoe Club member buy a new boat.