DANNY CROUCH was crowned national Under-14 champion at the Artistic English Championships on the weekend.

The South Essex gymnast, 12, beat rivals up to two years older than him to take the All-Around title at the Redbridge Sports & Leisure Centre in Barkingside, Essex.

Coach Anthony Wise (pictured with Danny) said: “It is Danny’s first year in the Under-14s category and so – at 12 years old – to win against the country’s best 12, 13 and 14 year olds is pretty amazing.

“He also got quite a few apparatus medals but it was not just the winning that impressed me most about Danny’s competition.

“He got a low score on vault and then had a really nasty fall off of the high bar, which even scared me a little.

“Danny got back up, got on the bar and finished off the routine with perfection.

“So his grown-up attitude is what impressed me the most and he dusted himself off and performed even better than ever before.

“He then went on to do an amazing floor routine – which won gold in his age group by a whole mark.

“And it was a score that would of won not just the Under 16 and Under 18 competition, but also medalled in the senior competition. That is amazing.

“So I am a very proud coach and we are going to Manchester this week to train with some of his British team-mates from up north for a few days.

“That will be nice and relaxed and give him time to recover and get ready for the British Championships next month.”