Falkirk 11-year-old Stephen Tonge is a young man with a very bright sporting future. A pupil at Bonnybridge Primary School, he has already been selected as a member of the GB elite squad.

And he now has two more reasons for celebration. He has been named in the Scottish team for the Celtic Cup in Perth this month and has also been selected –one of the youngest ever - for the Central Scotland Institute of Sport.

Stpehen trains six days a week, and has just enjoyed a four day intensive session at the National Centre at Lilleshall in Shropshire.

“I began gymnastics when I was in nursery as a four year old. I enjoyed it from the start and have been doing it ever since,” said Stephen.  “I train six days a week, for between three and seven hours a day.”

Stephen trains at Falkirk and Alloa, and his coach, Andrew Webb, said: “Stephen has chosen a very demanding sport. But he clearly enjoys it. He has particular aptitude for the pommel horse.”

The Celtic Cup is a contest for Under-17 and Under-13 teams from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland.