Club News January & Febuary 2009

Club News Mar & Apr 2009

Club News May to July 2009

Club News Oct to Dec 2009

Irish Tumbling Tournament – County Monaghan, Ireland

6th – 8th February 2009

Friday was an extremely early start for gymnasts, Mica Parry, Hannah Saunders, Sian Foster and Imogen Hopkinson and coach Karen Martindale as they had to be at the airport for 4.30am!! Snow caused hours of delay but once all gymnasts from the various clubs arrived they were off to the training venue arriving early evening. Training gave the girls chance to get used to the track and get their legs working. Saturday was the qualifiying rounds and all girls got through to Sundays finals. Imogen, the youngest member of the team at just 9 years old did an excellent run consisting of round off, whip, 5 flics half twist and came 4th just missing out on a medal. Sian, age 10 also came 4th after also doing a lovely run of round off 2 whips 4 flics full twist. Hannah, age 13 was attempting a full in tuck back out which although it didn’t quite work out was still lucky enough to take 3rd position; with Mica, age 16 taking 1st place with a round off full twisting whip, whip, full twist whip through to full in pike out. Our thanks to our hosts Craig and Sally Filmer of Millenium Gymnastics who ran the competition and although it was a long weekend the hotel was really nice, competition very friendly and we were made to feel very welcome. To finish the weekend two members of our party had their birthdays whilst up in the air – Mica celebrated her 17th birthday and one of our parents who travelled with us, Imogen’s mum, Megan celebrated her birthday. Happy Birthday to you both.

Sian, Mica, Hannah and Imogen

Cheshire & Merseyside Club Grades 2009

Sunday, 8th February 2009
City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club, Liverpool

Well what a long day. Freya and Christa were competing in Grade 13 in age and Jess and Autumn in Grade 12. Each competition was about 4 hours long. Freya and Christa were competing in the morning and despite the 8:30am start were in good spirits. All their pieces went well but unfortunately both came off in their forward roll on beam seriously affecting their scores as a fall is now worth 1 whole point. Christa did a really good bar routine and we were disappointed that she didn't receive a higher score. Freya shone on the day, her floor routine looking beautiful.

Freya received 3rd place in Grade 13 in age and will now represent Cheshire and Merseyside as part of a team of 6 at the Regional grades, competing on bars, vault, beam and floor.

Christa qualified in 8th place to allow her to enter the Regional competition as an Individual Qualifier.

Autumn and Jess were on in the afternoon competing in Grade 12. Grade 12 is now any age and they were competing against girls who were 3-5 years older than them. They did well on all their pieces, performing lovely bar routines. Unfortunately beam was the downfall again, with Jess coming off in her free roll and Autumn losing her free roll and tuck jump immediate w jump, but both landing their full spins, handstand, split leaps, and front somi dismounts. It was commented on the day by the judges that Autumn was the only gymnast in Grade 12 to do their tuck jump immediate w jump as it should be done but was unfortunate not to be able to stick it. Again this affected their overall scores but I was extremely proud that Jess took 2nd place on beam.

Jess received 6th place in Grade 12 and will now represent Cheshire and Merseyside as part of a team of 6 at the Regional Grades, competing on bars, vault, beam and floor.

A big thank you goes to Janine who spent her day taking the girls round as their coach was judging.

Well the Wirral girls once again did the club proud. Let's hope they will be able to bring home some medals in the Regionals!

CLUB GRADES RESULTS

Park High Cluster Schools Floor & Vault Competition Display

29th January 2009

Park High Sports College held their annual schools competition and Wirral Gymnastics were invited to put on some gymnastics displays to entertain the parents and children attending.

Park High have gymnastics coaches going into their feeder schools and Sian and Autumn were chosen to perform their floor routines as individual displays. Autumn also took part in the schools competition and took first place overall for her school Bidston Avenue. The other schools taking part were Cole Street and Priory Parish School.

Freya and Christa used the opportunity to do their grade 13 floor routine with a few tweaks to make it a bit more interesting. They did very well performing the routine together and showed great timing and looked beautiful.

Jess, Lucy, Amee and Freya then did their interpretation of Girls Aloud "The Promise" with a range of artistic, sports acro and tumbling gymnastics. Considering the floor was made of hard mats we were all surprised when all the girls managed to perform their flics and Jess in a moment of daring did a round off tuck back - spotted perfectly! Big cheers from her coach!!!

Well done to all the girls who made us proud of Wirral Gymnastics as usual. As one of the little school children said to the girls "I think you're great" and so do we x