A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ice skater is celebrating after winning a national competition.

Caitlyn Baxby, a member the Widnes Sparkling Stars team, gained first prize at the Lee Valley Synchro and Beginner Singles in London.

The schoolgirl beat off competition in the under nines category for her free skate dance after coming 10th in her last contest in June.

Remarkably, Caitlyn only started performing two years ago.

Her mum Anne, 42, from St Helens, said: “I am just so proud of Caitlyn.

“We did not expect her to win at all and when she had to go up to the podium she asked me where to stand. I had to tell her on number one because you’re the winner.

“I am a PE teacher so it was important to me that Caitlyn took part in some form of sport.

“She was always spinning around when she was little so I tried her in ice skating and she just loves it.

“She trains six days a week, even at 7am on Tuesdays before school, and has so far been in three competitions but this is her first win.

“She always gets back up again after a fall and is so resilient, which as a mum and with my job, I’m proud of the most because she works very hard.

“It took her eight months to learn one of the moves she used in her performance.

“She’s just amazing and I love to see her enjoying what she does.”

Caitlyn skates at The Silver Blades Ice Rink on Earle Road, Widnes.

She is part of the Widnes Sparkling Stars team which came third in the synchronised dancing section of the competition.

They will be competing in the Nottingham British Championships in January.