FREESTYLE snowboarder Luci Winnard was crowned champion in the English Slopestyle Championships at Manchester Chill Factore.

The Eldersfield 13-year-old won a gold medal in the under-16s category, beating a member of the Great Britain squad in the process.

Winnard also secured bronze for the best female among the adults and juniors to put her third in the United Kingdom rankings. She enjoyed a hard-fought competition after being promoted to the age group above from the under-14s.

The teenager managed to produce a technically solid run, which was in icy conditions as the slope groomer was out of action.

Previously, Winnard has claimed bronze medals twice and silver at the other main UK event, The Brits, last October, which was also held in Manchester.

The pupil at King’s School, Gloucester, has been snowboarding for the past three to four years alongside her brother Harry, 15, and both are sponsored riders.

Harry boasts some big-name sponsors, while Luci is currently backed by Noah’s Ark in Stroud with Nikita as her main brand of choice.

The siblings travel to The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead, most Fridays and train as part of the sponsored team there.

Luci also had a film released last month with Great Britain Winter Olympian Aimee Fuller as part of the This Girl Can national campaign by Sport England.