Finding that balance between schoolwork and competing at the highest level is tough, but a Glyn School pupil is doing just that.

Jack Neill, 17, was recently crowned the British U18 pommel horse champion at the British Gymnastics Championships.

The Irish international, who began his gymnastics life aged five years old at Tolworth Gymnastics Club, also finished third on the parallel bars and fifth in the all-round competition.

Neill has also competed at the 2012 European Championships and 2013 European Youth Olympics, and hopes to be at October’s World Championships in Glasgow.

The teenager trains for more than 20 hours a week on top of his school studies – which only serves to make his achievement in securing an offer from Cambridge University to study engineering all the more impressive.

He said: “Staff at Glyn have always been hugely supportive of my gymnastics and also provided academic support whenever I’ve needed it.

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Golden show: Jack Neill at the British champs

“Last summer I took three AS-Levels when I was out in Bulgaria competing at the European Championships – the school made arrangements with the British Council for me to do my exams when I was there, and stayed in touch to check how the competition was going.”

Glyn’s head of sixth form Joe Gale said: “Jack has a great work ethic.

“I was his biology teacher for two years and saw no sign of the huge amounts of work he was putting in to his gymnastics, as his work was always done on time and to a high standard.”