Gymnastics success at home and overseas for Melksham competitors

EIGHT gymnasts from the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics flew to Malta for an international competition on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July.

The competition was held in a gym underground, away from the high temperatures outside.

On Saturday morning Chloe Daykin (14) and Ellie Gittins (15) competed very well with no major mistakes. Their results were: Chloe Daykin – 1st bars, 2nd beam, 1st floor, GOLD OVERALL! and Ellie Gittins – 3rd vault, 1st beam and 3rd floor

Saturday afternoon saw Robyn Ellison (12), Anna Oatley (12) and Jessica Daykin (11) give good performances. Robyn gave a clean performance on all pieces of apparatus while Anna and Jessica sadly had one mistake each on beam. Their results were: Robyn Ellison – 2nd beam and BRONZE OVERALL .

TEAM BRONZE – On Sunday morning Nicole Parsons (10), Jasmine Frost (10) and Holly Gaiger (10) took to the floor to see if they could do as well as the girls had done the previous day – No pressure!! All three girls did exceptionally well:

Nicole Parsons – Bars 1st, Beam 3rd, Floor 1st – OVERALL GOLD; Jasmine Frost – Bars 2nd, Beam 2nd, Floor 2nd – OVERALL SILVER; Holly Gaiger – Beam 1st – OVERALL BRONZE.

TEAM GOLD – On the Sunday evening the gymnasts and their two coaches attended a barbecue hosted by the local gymnastics club in Malta.  Rachel Levick, head coach said, “It was a fantastic week away where all the gymnasts were a pleasure to be with. They worked hard in the gym and we had many great results.”

SW Regional Grades  – The Regional Grades are compulsory elements/skills put into a voluntary routine. The gymnasts need to compete on the usual vault, bars, beam and floor and also compete range and conditioning. This exercise tests them on their flexibility and strength.

There is a minimum score the gymnasts need to achieve on range and conditioning to pass their grade and also a minimum score overall that is required to pass. The gymnasts can achieve a pass but if they really excel on all pieces of apparatus they can achieve a distinction.

The Wiltshire School of Gymnastics had seven gymnasts compete in Bristol on Sunday 7th July. The seven gymnasts all passed their grade 13 with a distinction. This is an excellent achievement for both the gymnasts and the club.  All gymnasts who competed are either already eight years old or they turn eight before the end of the year.