A SCHOOLGIRL from North Yorkshire has reached the national final of a statistical card game competition.

Jessica Tate, from Malton, beat more than 100,000 schoolchildren from around the country to reach the Top Trumps national final, to be held at London’s Science Museum this month.

The nine-year-old is one of only 72 finalists in the competition, and won her place by beating 200 pupils at her school, and a number of online contenders, before she finished 17th out of the entrants.

Norton Community Primary School Year Five teacher Dan Gough, who organised the school’s event, said Jessica was an excellent Top Trumps player.

He said: “We think it’s fantastic that she got through.

“She was so dedicated, she even did a lot of it over the Easter holidays.

“I’m pretty sure that at one point she was about fourth in the country.”

About 106 million packs of Top Trumps cards have been created in 21 different languages since the game was first released in 1977.

Jessica and her parents will travel to the national final at London’s Science Museum on Saturday, May 28, and the winner will receive a trophy and £1,000 for their school.

Fiona Hortopp, from game makers Winning Moves UK, said: “Our congratulations to Jessica. She has done fantastically well to get to the final from so many entrants. We wish her all the very best in London.”

Mr Gough said: “Jessica must have learned the cards inside out. It’s great that her parents are going to go with her to the final too.

“Our head teacher has very kindly donated some money for the travel expenses too. I know she’s really looking forward to it.”