A BATON twirling competition will be held at Christie Miller this Sunday to launch a Melksham woman’s new association, which is encouraging youngsters to take part in the sport.
Tanya Denning, the leader of Melksham’s Enigma Twirl Team, has started the Rhythmic Dance Twirl Association (RDTA) alongside a number of other groups in the region in the hope of holding affordable, fun competitions.
The RDTA will hold its first competition at Christie Miller Sports Centre on Sunday 24th April from 9am, and spectators or people interested in the sport are welcome to come along – entry costs £2 per person.
Tanya said, “We started the association because we want to put the fun back into baton twirling and make it more accessible for local people. There are other, bigger associations but membership and competition entry fees can be quite costly, especially when travelling and accommodation is involved.
“This can put children from smaller towns, like Melksham, out of action if they can’t afford it. The bigger events can also be very competitive – we want the sport to be fun and inclusive for everyone, so are hoping to do things our own way.
“We’ll be hosting three competitions this year and hopefully five or six in 2017. Most of them will be held at Christie Miller.
“Baton twirling is really popular and has been around for ages – it is taught in schools in the USA. The majority of people in the Enigma troupe are school-age girls, and it’s a really good way to get them active.
“They enjoy it because there’s such a variety of elements like rhythmic gymnastics, dance, and the baton twirling itself. It’s a really creative sport and a good way for them to learn new skills and make friends.”
For more information about the association or this weekend’s competition email
RDTA_ @outlook.com To get involved with the local baton twirling group, Enigma, visit www.enigmatwirlteam.co.uk find it on Facebook, or contact Tanya on 07702 808079.
