AN OTTERY boy will be the only gymnast representing the South West region at the upcoming British Championships in May.

AN OTTERY boy will be the only gymnast representing the South West region at the upcoming British Championships in May.Ottery Primary School pupil Daniel Iley, 11, of Franklea Close, Ottery, won the Devon under-14 championships and came second in the SW championships three weeks ago in the under-12 age group.This is the third time Daniel has qualified for the British Championships and, after the only other SW competitor dropped out due to injury, he will be the sole South West gymnast in his age group at the event.Daniel's dad, Gavin Iley, said: "He trains for 20 to 30 hours a week with Mike Euridge at Exeter Gymnastics Club along with four other boys in the elite squad."Staff at Ottery Primary School and head teacher Doug Rylance have been very supportive by giving him the time off he needs to train."Daniel competes in the traditional gymnastic disciplines of pommel horse, rings, high bar and floor exercises and has a shelf full of medals to show his prowess.While many of the area's budding sports stars have their sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London, Mr Iley thinks Daniel will still be a bit young."Male gymnasts come into their prime at about 20 years old whereas female gymnasts peak at 16 to 18."We would love to see him go as far and do as well as he can and who knows what he can achieve if he continues."If all goes according to plan, Daniel has his sights set on joining the British squad which would see his already busy training schedule increase and involve trips to elite training camps in Shropshire.