A Surbiton schoolgirl with cystic fibrosis overcame the limits of her condition to compete at the World Irish Dancing Championships 2018 in Glasgow.

Issy Fairclough, 15, has to take antibiotics and nebuliser treatments every morning and night, do daily chest therapy, which takes an hour before school and a couple of hours every evening.

But she saw off competition from most of the 199 other competitors in her age group – the top one per cent of competitors worldwide – making it to the final 50 to perform in front of a panel of adjudicators.

She has always been energetic, but at age seven she broke her leg during a trampolining class – and during treatment a nurse suggested she try Irish dancing.

Issy’s mum, Lynn, a 45-year old lawyer, said: “Issy just took to Irish dancing straight away. She loved the music and the rhythm; her passion for dancing was clear from the beginning.”

Within two years, Issy won the Southern England Regional Championships.

Lynn said: “Every three months, Issy is admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital for two weeks of intensive medication and treatment. When she is an in-patient, Issy has to miss out on her training, but she will often ask the doctors for ward leave just so that she can get to class.

“And when she was younger, her dance teacher Lauren would even come to the hospital to see her and give her lessons there – they would be dancing in the hospital corridors.”

Exercise can have huge benefits for people with cystic fibrosis, which can often severely reduce quality of life.

Lynn said: “There are times when I worry it may be too much for her, especially if she is due for hospital treatment or if she is feeling unwell. But if I suggest she give her training or competing a miss, Issy always says no, and insists that she wants to do it.”

Issy was rank 46 in the world at the championships.