A youngster is aiming high in the world of gymnastics after winning her second national competition in a row.

Sky Bebbington, 11, became British national compulsory (elite) level 2 women’s artistic champion after achieving first place on the floor and second on vault, bars and beams.

The win in Ipswich was the second national title for Sky in less than seven months.

The Hartley Primary School pupil came out top in the British Gymnastics women’s artistic voluntary category in November last year.

Her success, competing against the best gymnasts in her age group, means she will now fly out to Italy and spend 10 days training with international coaches and other young gymnasts from Europe.

In the meantime, she is continuing to concentrate on her hectic schedule, which can see her training for up to seven hours a day, six days a week, at the Europa Centre in Crayford.

Mum Louise Rumsey, 31, said: “We are really proud of her but she works very hard for it. She goes straight from school to training. She changes and eats her dinner in the car and then trains for four hours.

“She doesn’t really get school holidays either. She just has more training and can be doing it for up to seven hours a day.

“It takes a lot of hard work but Sky has stuck it out. She wants to go to the Olympics, that’s the dream. It’s a long way but she is with the right coaches and is on the right path.”

Sky, who lives in Hill Rise, Darenth, is one of several potential senior world or Olympic champions who train at Europa.

Her club mates include 2014 Junior European Floor Exercise Champion Catherine Lyons, 2013 English Espoir and British Espoir Champion Georgia-Mae Fenton and Giarnni Regini-Moran, who is a member of the Great Britain junior male team that has just won its fourth straight European gymnastics title in Bulgaria.

Louise said: “They obviously have the right coaches although we often joke that Sky gets her strength from me and her dancing from her dad!”

If you are interested in sponsoring Sky email Louise on louiserum@aol.com or phone her on 07737 372383.