If strictly ice dancing's Zoia Birmingham can do for a Kensington schoolgirl what she did for David Seaman on TV - west London has a new champ in the making, writes Chris Cottrell.

Birmingham's current protége, 11-year-old Blythe Burkhart, glided to gold in an U12 open events in only her fourth competition.

Burkhart's win came at the recent Chelmsford Open Championship - one of the most prestigious in the junior calendar.

The rising star attends St Paul's School in Hammersmith and trains for two hours every week with Birmingham at the

Queens Ice Rink in Bayswater. "She started skating about six years ago and she has worked really hard for this,'' said her coach.

Birmingham reckons Blythe was good enough to win last year but found the pressure too much. But she's banished those demons and followed up a third place in Guildford with her recent win.

Birmingham said: "You can tell her talent by how graceful she is and how well she executes her manoeuvres."

For all that, her coach is trying to keep the talented youngster's feet on the ground - except during her jumps and salchows of course.