SPORTS student Ross Pickersgill has won his way through to the national final of a personal trainer competition. The 18-year-old took part in the North East regional heat of the Level 3 CYQ fitness trainer competition, in which his friend and fellow Redcar and Cleveland College student Luke Danks also took part.

To win his place in the final, Ross was judged on the proficiency of his consultation skills by being given a scenario, which saw him working with a client to deliver a tailor-made session and evaluate the results.

It was a close competition with Ross narrowly beating Luke to a place in the final, but the pair remain firm friends.

Both teenagers are completing the full-time level 3 diploma in personal training at the college, where the competition was held.

Despite not making it through to the final, Luke will accompany Ross as his client to the national event on May 1 at the FA’s St.George’s Park in Burton-Upon-Trent.

Ross will be representing the North-East as he competes against students from eight different regions in the competition, organised by CYQ and British Colleges Sport.

Ross, a former pupil of Laurence Jackson School, from Guisborough, said he was excited to be competing on a national scale.

“My ambition is to work as a personal trainer in one of the local gyms and to hopefully one day own my own gym,” said Ross.