Gold again. No wonder young Josh has a spring in his step

WHEN STUART Newmanbought his daughter a trampoline for his back garden, noone could ever have imagined that just six years later, young Josh would be an Olympic youth champion. His journey to the top has been, as the late David Coleman used to say, quite remarkable.

The story goes that Josh’s sister, Alex, wanted the equipment to help her along with her GCSE exam, but once her little brother got on, he just wouldn’t get off.

Indeed, Josh took to the trampoline like a duck to water. He was a natural and performed somersaults for fun, showing absolutely no fear.

He came into his own very quickly and passed every grading test first time. My first recollection of Josh came around the summer of 2010 when he was selected to represent Redbridge at the London Youth Games. A year later he was crowned National under-13 champion. The former King Solomon High pupil described that as “the best day of my life,” and that was in his barmitzvah year.

Punching above his weight is something Josh has been doing for fun for some time now as he beats boys older than him on a regular basis. Indeed, it has given his parents much nachas, and rightly so.

Big things beckon for the boy from Billericay as long as he, as I’m sure he will, keeps his feet on the ground. If he adopts a tunnel vision, we could have a Jewish superstar on our hands before too long.

Anyone who thinks that Team USA will be a soft touch in the Open rugby competition at this summer’s Maccabiah Games can think again. Coach Shawn Lipman is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of glory and, as part of their preparations for Israel, he will take his troops for a training session against the US Navy Seals at their facility on Coronado Island. Final trials for the team will be held at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista in California in the coming weeks.

The quarter-finals of the JC Cyril Anekstein Cup are scheduled to take place on Sunday and with all four ties likely to be played on 3G, they will hopefully beat the cold snap.

First division Camden Park will be looking to avoid an upset when they take on Division Two leaders Brady Maccabi B at the Ark Academy in Wembley. And in Edgware, Temple Fortune A go in search of a major upset against 2011 cup winners Redbridge Jewish Care A.

The other ties are also mouth-watering affairs with Premier Division rivals Faithfold A up against Oakwood A at the Hive, while cup holders Hendon United Sports Club A host 2010 winners London Maccabi Lions A at Rowley Lane.

For four of these teams, a place in the final at Wingate & Finchley will only be 180 minutes away.

Chigwell Athletic have signed holding midfielder Greg Lautman. Speaking about the former Redbridge Jewish Care player, Chigwell boss Richard Slater said: “Greg is a good ball-player with young legs and will be a great addition to the squad.”

JAMI has a silver bond place available for the London Marathon on April 21. The community’s mental health charity receives a marathon slot every five years. For details, contact Rachel. barres@jamiuk.org. See Danny Caro’s weekend round-up at thejc.com. Email dcaro@thejc.com and/ or follow Danny on Twitter:@djcaro