A HIGHLAND dancer has proved she’s the ‘reel’ deal by bringing home coveted medals from an international competition held in Hawaii.

Talented youngster Poppy Murray wowed judges at the recent Hawaiian Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Waikiki.

The nine-year-old was cheered on by her proud mum Lynette as she topped the beginner category at the competition.

She came first in the group choreography class alongside ten of her peers from the Margaret Rose School of Dance.

While she was in Hawaii Poppy and her family also got the chance to see the sights and take part in local Tartan Day celebrations.

The schoolgirl, who has been dancing since she was five, told the Tele it had been an amazing experience.

Greenock Telegraph: Poppy Murray wins top prizes at Hawaiian Scottish Festival and Highland

She said: “I was very nervous about it but it got easier once we had flown out.

“We did our normal Highland Dancing as well as our solo dances and choreographies and it went really well.

“We went to Pearl Harbour and I loved it and we also got to go out canoeing as well, which was amazing.

“It was really good fun, I had a great time.”

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Poppy’s proud mum Lynette, who competed as a dancer herself for over 20 years, said she was proud of her daughter’s achievements.

The competition took place across two days and saw competitors divided into four categories – beginner, novice, intermediate and premier.

Poppy won the overall prize for beginners, triumphed in the group choreography event and came sixth in the solo choreography category.

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Lynette added: “Hawaii was amazing, it was like a different world.

“It was a proper traditional Highland Games, they did a very good job of organising things.

“You were walking through and one minute there would be bagpipes everywhere then the next it would be Hula dancers, it was surreal.

“I’m very proud of Poppy.

“It was a bit strange watching her dance in another country, we never went anywhere abroad when I danced so it was good to see her get that experience.

“They’ve been practicing constantly since they came back from lockdown and it’s all paid off.

“We had a lot of help to get to Hawaii - Stephen Connon from the Inverclyde Bonus Ball Facebook page put a lot of money towards getting her there and her dance school paid for her accommodation, her food and things like that.

“We wouldn’t have got there without them, we’re really grateful for their help.”

Now Poppy is now looking forward to competing in a full domestic calendar of Highland Games and dancing competitions.