A RISING gymnast has hit new heights after winning a regional competition.

Five-year-old Emily Talbot, of South Stanley, won first prize in the Northern region inter-schools trampoline competition in Newcastle. The youngster, from South Stanley Infant School, was up against 59 other children, aged up to 11.

Emily, who has attended trampoline sessions since she was two, will compete in the next round, to be held in Manchester in January.

This was the second contest she has won this year. In October, she came first in a graded competition for under-nines held in Ashington, Northumberland.

She is coached at the Louisa Trampoline Club, in the Louisa Centre, Stanley, by Lisa Heywood and Andrew Brown.

In total, 565 youngsters took part in the Northern heats, from schools across the region and 15 Louisa club members came away with honours.

Mark Anson, 15, who represented Newcastle College, came second in his class. Jonelle Pye, Kelly Foster, Kloe Wilson,of Tanfield School, near Stanley, were second in the under-13s category. The school also clinched third place in the same class, represented by Yasmin Round, Amy Doolan and Simone Tallentire.

Former club member Gemma Proud made it a hat-trick for Tanfield, winning a first place.