A SUPER-talented young gymnast from Gourock is all set to test himself against the very best in Britain.

Ten-year-old Matthew McGill has landed a spot in Team Scotland for an upcoming UK-wide championship after a strong all-round performance in qualifers.

The St Ninian’s pupil trains with the sport’s elite at the Inverclyde National Training Centre four days a week.

A top performer on all six apparatus, he takes an afternoon off school every week to work on developing his sporting prowess.

Primary six pupil Matthew said: “I am very excited about going to the finals and representing Scotland for the first time. I love gymnastics because it is fun and exciting.

“My favourite apparatus is the pommel horse. I just want to keep working hard and getting better and better.

“If I finish in the top ten at the upcoming event, I will get to go on a training camp with both the Scottish and English gymnasts.” To secure his top place finishes Matthew has had to demonstrate a high level of ability on all six apparatus floor, pommel horse, still bars, vault, parellel bars and high bar.

The unstoppable youngster has risen through the ranks of the sport since starting out at the age of five.

He is a member of the Largs Gymnastics Club, which trains at the national training centre in the town.

His family, including mum Linda, ferry him back and forth almost every day of the week.

Four times a week he travels to Largs to train for a couple of hours before heading back home.

On a Friday he leaves school at lunchtime to head down to the centre, where he trains all afternoon with other high achievers from the club.

He is part of a national programme and is rising through the ranks under the guidance of head coach Allan McKinnon and senior coach Jordan Loughlan.

This year he has already recorded some top performances, winning silver in his age group at the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Scottish Regional Grades Qualifer in Perth.

The second place finish meant that he qualified for the Team Scotland squad at the British Grades Finals in Birmingham in November at pre-level 1.