Young Buddies off to Birmingham for UK competition
Two young Buddies are jumping for joy as they gear up to represent Scotland in a top gymnastics competition.
Angel McCallum, 12, and Joe Green, 15, have qualified for the finals of the British Tumbling Championships.
The talented youngsters train with Storm Gymnastics at Paisley’s Robertson Sports Centre.
Angel, who attends West Primary School, told the Express she can’t wait for the competition’s climax.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to it all.
“I’ve been doing gymnastics for about five years.
“I’m a little bit nervous but also excited. “Hopefully I’ll do well.” Both Angel and Joe have tumbled their way to the top two in each of their categories, NDP 1 and 4 respectively.
Juggling cartwheels and homework is no mean feat for St Andrew’s Academy pupil Joe.
The 15-year-old is in the throes of his National 5 exams.
But he told the Express he is on top of it.
“I’m right in the middle of my exams just now, and the competition isn’t far away,” he said.
“Some of them have been easy and others have been a lot harder.
“I’ve been training lots for the finals too and think I’ve been making good progress.
“I just love gymnastics, everything about it.
“Competing in this category, which is a step up from last year should be good fun.”
Proud instructor Janet McClintock thinks the youngsters deserve to go far.
“Both Angel and Joe have been working so hard,” she said.
“The finals take place in Birmingham in June so they’re not far away at all.
“We’re all rooting for them.”
They’ve worked so hard. We’re all rooting for them Jane McClintock Instructor
Janet says the standard at Storm is something to be admired.
“When we go to these competitions we are always up against countless academies that have the best of equipment and facilities,” she added.
“We don’t even train with the appropriate tumbling mats.
“Yet these two are now representing Scotland with the country’s top gymnasts.
“It really is achievement.” some