Baton star Danielle captains England

During the working week Danielle Mowlam specialises in estate administration in the private client department of expanding law firm Blanchards Bailey LLP.

But at weekends the Dorset-based legal executive dons a sequin-encrusted skater dress and takes to the floor as captain of the England baton twirling team.

Danielle, 26, has just returned from leading the team at the four-day European Championship in Selestat, near Strasbourg, in eastern France.

She competed in individual and team events after spending hundreds of gruelling hours practising routines.

And what a success it was! The team took home the silver medal and in her individual event, Danielle made it to the final and finished a commendable eighth.

She is now looking forward to the World Championship which is being staged in Holland in July where her England team will come up against much better funded countries such as the USA, where competitors are almost professional.

Danielle, who joined award-winning law firm Blanchards Bailey LLP in 2016, has been baton twirling since she was five, apart from a short break in her late teens.

She is a member of Oasis Twirlstars, one of the UK’s leading teams, and undertakes a 110-mile round trip to their Basingstoke base every Saturday and Sunday for 14 hours of intensive training.

She likens her sport to rhythmic gymnastics and competes in around 14 competitions every year.

And it is a real labour of love as she has to cover all travel, accommodation and equipment expenses herself – as well as putting up with bruises and back pain.

One piece of kit she rarely changes in her lucky baton which she has been using for years.

Now a veteran member of the squad and competing alongside team-mates as young as 13, she has vowed not to retire until she has achieved everything she can.

She said: “I’d quite like to coach in the future, but until then I want to go on competing at the highest level for as long as I can, but it’s hard on the body – sometimes I can’t move for a couple of days after a training session!

“I absolutely love the sport and the massive commitment it requires is well worth it. To be named captain of England was a real honour.

“Some of my work colleagues think I’m a bit potty as when they go home for the night or weekend I’ve always got my bag packed to go to the gym or to more training.

“In fact, at the moment I’ve pretty much only got time for my baton twirling, work and studying for my exams.”

Danielle, a Private Client Executive specialising in estate administration at Blanchards Bailey, is spending five to 10 hours a week working towards her CILEx, Chartered Legal Executive, qualifications.

Based in Blanchards Bailey’s head office in Blandford, she is In her third year of study, having recently done her paralegal qualification and has three exams this year before moving on to her final CILEx level.