Irish dancer Sam Davies has crossed the Atlantic to to take a prestigious place on the global podium.

Competing in the 43rd World Irish Dancing Championships in Boston, USA, on Saturday, Sam secured a fifth place in the senior men's class out of a strong field of 55 dancers.

"I was so happy to be in the top five," said Sam, of New Hedges. "It was the toughest competition I had ever taken part in."

Over 6,000 dancers from as far afield as Russia, Australia and South America qualifed to take part in the eight-day contest, run by the world's top Irish dancing organisation, An Coimisun Le Rinci Gaelacha (CLRG).

"It's been an amazing experience to travel to America to compete against the world's top dancers, as well as being able to watch so many of them on stage," said Sam, who started Irish dancing as a nine-year-old with the Hynes School of Irish Dancing in Saundersfoot.

The former pupil of Tenby's Greenhill School celebrated his 24th birthday in New York on Tuesday, before returning to London, where he works as a trainee actuary with the Government actuary's department.

Sam travels regularly to Dublin for lessons, workshops and performances with the renowned Scoil Rince Ui She, where his teachers include former Riverdancers Colm O'Se and his sister, Dara O'Shea Delap. He is now looking forward to competing throughout Ireland and the UK in the year ahead, culminating with next year's World Championships in London.