BUDDING gymnasts in Prudhoe were given a coaching masterclass by a former international star.

Year 9 pupils at the town’s high school were put through their paces by gymnast Craig Heap, who won gold for Great Britain at the Commonwealth Games in both 1998 and 2002, in a special session at The City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy, in Benfield.

Through his role as an ambassador for Sky Sport‘s Living for Sport scheme, Heap chatted with the 15 youngsters before running them through a number of drills on all apparatus.

The well-known gymnastics personality had previously visited a different set of children at Prudhoe, and was keen to work with the girls to deliver practical advice to young people to help develop their people skills.

He said: “Through the Living for Sport scheme, we tell young people there are six keys to success, those being mental toughness, hunger to achieve, people skills, sports and life knowledge, breaking barriers and planning for success.

”It‘s about how we can help the children better themselves in life, and hopefully achieve their goals in life, whether sporting or otherwise.

”It’s not necessarily all about sport, but about overcoming adversary, getting over obstacles and trying to relate that with athletes such as myself or the other 94 in the scheme.”

The session with Craig was a huge success with the Prudhoe pupils who all went away inspired about meeting someone who managed to travel the world through gymnastics.

PE teacher Rachel McDonald said: “It‘s inspiring to be coached by somebody like Craig and the aim is to keep the girls involved in sport and physical activity through high school.

“The visit to this centre is good as the facilities at schools across Northumberland aren’t the best, so to use this facility with an international gymnast will show that what they have been working towards in gymnastics is worth it.”