A YOUNG Helensburgh gymnast has swept the board in her age group at one of Scotland’s biggest gymnastics competitions.

Heather Kumari Hughes, 10, secured gold in her age category and became Scotland’s number one tumbler for her age at the Scottish national double mini trampoline and tumbling championships in Perth.

And her victory was all the more notable since it came just a week after she finished 16th out of 16 in her age group at the International Gymnastic Federation (FIG)’s British championship.

Heather is a pupil at Hermitage Primary School in Helensburgh and practises her gymnastic skills at Dynamite Gymnastic Club in Clydebank.

Reflecting on that British championship disappointment, mum Erica said: “Her coach, Ellena Devitt from Dynamite, gave her a big hug and told Heather that she still believed in her and not to worry about anything.

“After talking to her coach I thought that the pressure of being in such a huge competition heaped together with my own anxiety and fears, as a mum, in the run up to the competition might have affected her.

“Her class teacher, Mrs Grafton gave her a pep talk and that day she came back from school with a massive grin on her face, and told me that she couldn’t wait to get back to her training at Dynamite to show her coach that her faith in her was not misplaced.”

And a week later Heather completed a remarkable turnaround by not only winning gold in her age category, but winning across the age range.

Erica continued: “She won the coveted FIG tumble title and trophy for 2018 with her run one - round off, five whips, flip, double back somersault - and round two, featuring a round off, five whips, flip and double pike.

“I’d like to thank her coach Elena, her gymnastic club Dynamite and her school, Hermitage Primary, and especially her teacher there, for all their support and faith in Heather.”