Fife triathlete Andrew Hood has set his sights on the 2014 Commonwealth Games as he prepares for a big year that could include a trip to Italy for the European Youth Championships.

The 16-year-old, who this week received news he had been reselected for the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative for a second year running, is targeting a place at the Tarzo Revine ETU U23 and Youth Triathlon European in June.

The Bell Baxter High School pupil attended an Olympic masterclass this week with Team GB stars past and present including Katharine Merry and Campbell Walsh, where he received advice on nutrition, big-Championship preparation, injury-prevention and how to handle the media.

And Hood, who competes under the East Fife Triathlon banner and joined the Scottish Triathlon squad for a warm-weather training camp in Menorca last month, believes his invitation to the Olympic get-together will only aid her career dream.

"To have the financial backing is a real boost because triathlon is essentially three sports rolled into one and things are three times expensive," said Hood, who will receive £1,000 towards the cost of training and competing.

"I am really pleased to be back on the scheme and it comes at a good time because the season is really building up now, I did my first triathlon in the middle of April and I won?t finish until the end of August now.

"A lot of work goes into being successful and I have a qualifying race for the European Youth Championships in Italy.

"It is in Eton in England and I know I have to finish in the top three to go so hopefully I will do well and get the chance to do that.

"I will still be reasonably young when 2012 comes along but that won't stop me trying to go. But if that doesn't happen then the 2014 Commonwealth Games are another great opportunity for me."