SILSDEN'S Jamie Simpson-Kidd is getting a large helping hand as he bids to be selected for the Cadet European Championships.

The 12-year-old Ilkley Grammar School pupil is being mentored by 2013 Grand Prix champion Mahama Cho, who is on course to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Cho, who was born in the Ivory Coast and has represented France as well as Great Britain, is ranked No 3 in the world for the plus-87kg heavyweight division. He regularly keeps in touch with Jamie following one-on-one training and mentoring sessions last year.

He sees the youngster, who has been a member of Great Britain's Cadet Development squad since 2013 and is a second dan black belt, as a promising talent.

Jamie, who trains 12 hours a week with Horizon Taekwondo Academy, is aiming for Cadet European Championship selection in Strasbourg, France, in July.

But to do that he needs to compete at tournaments in Holland, Spain and Austria, as well as train with the national team in Manchester at weekends and during school holidays.

His dad Rick, who coaches at Horizon, said: "It all comes down to the selection events and how he performs at GB camp. If he can show he is focused, can beat good opponents, stay fit and within his weight category and stay injury free, then he has a genuine chance.

"It is massively competitive in his weight group, as there are five or six other kids bidding for the same place and it will be hard to choose between them because they are all very strong. Great Britain can send only one competitor for each weight category."

Simpson added: "Ilkley Grammar have been really supportive, which has allowed Jamie to take opportunities like the USA Open last month, where he beat three good opponents and lost to the eventual winner in the semi-finals.

"The guy who beat him only did so by one kicking point, and is older and in the USA national team, so Jamie's really up there and with a genuine chance.

"He went to Belgium the following week and beat four people and won the competition with ease.

"Jamie has been preparing for this GB opportunity by keeping fit, training at our clubs – he even trains in his room as he asked for a kick-bob to practice on but I need a bigger kick-bob now because he can kick over the head of this one, which is already taller than me, and I'm over 6ft tall!

"It's amazing how he can stay so focused on his goals. It's not an easy life as an athlete – he has to train hard all the time to keep his fitness, strength and sharpness up. He misses out on lots of basic things that kids his age take for granted, as his training programme is so intense.

"But this is what he wants and while he desires going out with his friends and going on holidays every year, he chooses to keep his training and competing as his priority.

"We're supporting him all the way and he is proud to represent our area – Keighley and Bradford – on his journey."

Jamie's next outing is at the Dutch Open in Eindhoven tomorrow, where he will be facing 12-14 year olds of national teams from the likes of Germany, Poland, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Netherlands and the Czech Republic, as well as opposition from the UK.