A TINY dancer from Port Glasgow is reaching for the stars after bringing home her biggest ever medal haul from a single competition.

Jorgie McGowan, nine, took up ballroom and Latin around two years ago and trains under Warren Brown at Sundance Academy in Paisley three times a week.

The talented St John’s Primary School pupil started competing a year and a half ago and has already built up a collection of more than 50 medals.

At a recent event at Grangemouth Town Hall, Jorgie took home no less than 13 medals for her solo and couples performances.

Greenock Telegraph: Jorgie won 13 medals at a recent competition in GrangemouthJorgie won 13 medals at a recent competition in Grangemouth (Image: Cheryl McGowan)

The competition was the first outing for Jorgie and her new dance partner Jessica Connolly, with the youngsters placing first in two events.

Jorgie said: “I did my cha cha, jive, samba, waltz, quickstep and tango.

“It was my first time doing couples, so I didn’t expect to do good in that one.”

Mum Cheryl McGowan said: “She normally dances solo but she’s recently partnered up with her wee best friend Jessica.

“They’ve only been dancing together since February so it was their first time competing together.

“Until the week before they were feeling a bit underprepared for it, so we were so proud when they got two firsts and two seconds.”

Greenock Telegraph: Jorgie has won more than 50 medals since she started competingJorgie has won more than 50 medals since she started competing (Image: George Munro)

Jorgie has competed across Scotland and England since she took up dancing, with her favourite venues to dance in being Blackpool and Aberdeen's Beach Ballroom.

She was inspired to begin lessons after watching actress Rose Ayling-Ellis win the glitterball trophy on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021.

Rose was the first deaf contestant to take part in the popular BBC show and waltzed to the win with partner Giovanni Pernice.

Jorgie had the chance to see her favourite Strictly professional, Johannes Radebe, on his tour in Glasgow the night before her competition in Grangemouth.

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Cheryl added: “She held a poster up that said ‘wish me luck’ and he picked her out the audience.

“On the way out, all the audience members were wishing her luck as well.”

Jorgie hopes to follow in the footsteps of her dancing idols by becoming a professional.

She said: “My dream would be to go on Strictly. I love watching it.”