BY Tara Fitzpatrick

FOUR Clydebank youngsters are doing cartwheels after gaining selection for the British Gymnastics Aspiring Talent Squad for 2017.

Dynamite Gymnastics Club members Sophie Brown and Skye McNicol, both pupils at Gavinburn Primary School, were chosen along with Neve Kehoe and Emily Brown to train in the Northern Zone Zonal Squad at Wakefield Gymnastics Club.

Neve and Sophie, aged 10, and Skye and Emily, both eight, train for around 15 hours a week, and selection shows the hard work has paid off.

Jane Hamilton, mother of Skye McNicol, said: “We’re very proud. They really don’t take very many kids from Scotland so to get four from the one club is really great.”

“I would really encourage others to get their kids involved in gymnastics.

“Dynamite is like a family, we may not get a lot of funding but the coaches put in 100 per cent all the time.”

The girls will attend training sessions with Zoe Styles in Wakefield, who is one of the lead coaches on the British Gymnastics National Talent Development programme.

The budding gymnasts will develop their skills with their new team in all areas of the sport including tumbling, fast track, conditioning and flexibility.

Ellena Devitt, trainer of Clydebank’s Dynamite Gymnastics Club said: “The girls really enjoyed the experience, it means that they are among the best in their age group.”

Meanwhile, Sophie will be aiming for a medal when she represents Scotland at the regional team finals in Birmingham.

“We are hoping that they all achieve their qualifying score at the next level. We are also hoping that Sophie can get a medal.”

This is not the only good news for Dynamite Club recently as 18-year-old Scott McCormack has also been chosen for the British Gymnastics Podium Squad.

Scott recently represented Scotland at international level for the 17 to 21-year-old age grade – the final group before the senior level.

Ellena hopes that Scott’s success will inspire the younger members of the group.

She added: “That’s where they could be in the years to come.”