A FOREST gymnast has made history by becoming the first gymnast at the Forest of Dean Gymnastics Club to enter a British Gymnastics Championships.

Josh Cooper, of Broadwell, battled through bleeding hand blisters in the under-16 junior British event at Liverpool Echo Arena against 32 competitors.

The 16-year-old was supported by members at the club and coach Vladimir Schegolev, who travelled up with the teen for podium training the day before.

Lynn Hammersley of the club said: "Josh handled the pressure well, completing all routines on the six pieces of men's apparatus safely and included new moves to add to the level of difficulty. Starting on high bar and coping with open bleeding blisters on his hands from training, Josh just missed one move – his stalder – which unfortunately lowered his score. Undeterred he moved on to another apparatus settling down into good routines.

"Josh's floor routine was clean and safe and included handspring to full twisting straight front somersault. He decided not to include his new double back somersault under such pressure and ended up with a score of 11.25 and a creditable 26th place.

"Rings proved to be Josh's strongest piece where he achieved 20th place. On vault he was one of only 10 gymnasts competing two different vaults and his Tsukahara and full twisting handspring vaults earned him 10th place."

Josh said: "It was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed all of it and want to go again next year."

His coach Vladimir added: "I was very pleased with Josh's performance. The way he conducted himself calmly and his respect for other gymnasts and coaches, he did his best with such sore hands."

Josh and Vlad will be travelling to Russia in late June to compete in the international Veronezh Memorial Cup competition along with nine-year-old junior gymnast Iwan Scrivens.