Kingston Trampoline Academy prodigy Sam Preston has his fingers crossed that a stellar showing in this weekend’s National Championships in Birmingham could see him heading to August’s World Cup in St Petersburg.

The 11-year-old will head to the National Indoor Arena in good form, and with good memories after triumphing in the under-11 grade 2 event last year.

And Sunbury-based Preston admits a repeat performance would be a dream come true.

He said: “If I could qualify for the World Cup it would be absolutely amazing.

“To go to an event and get to compete against the best from the rest of the world would be fantastic.

“I’m sure I would be very nervous, but I would be very excited.

“So I really have to do well at Birmingham - but I am in good form and training has gone really well.”

Sam will be joined at the NIA by his older sister, Zoe, 13, who first introduced him to the sport when he was six.

And as well as his favourite discipline, Preston will also be competing in the Double Mini Trampoline event, classified as an entrant into the under-15 National C category.

Despite these demands, the Spelthorne Junior School pupil reckons he has a great chance of success.

He added: “I am doing a new routine with a lot of new moves so training has been quite hard.

“But it is great at the Academy and I have a really good relationship with the coaches and athletes there which makes things a lot easier.

“I want to be trampolining for a very long time and this is the perfect place for me to develop.

“Hopefully I can do well at Birmingham and things will go from there.”

Also representing Kingston Academy will be Alice Macaulay, 13, who will be competing in the under-15 National C DMT and the synchro event.