Penarth win Welsh gym team championship (From Penarth Times)

Penarth win Welsh gym team championship

AT THE recent Welsh Championships for girls Penarth Gym Club had their best results for several years.

There were age level events which are a preliminary to British Finals and Challenge Cup competitions for teams and individuals. The local side in their elegant navy leotards were out to impress and they did just that.

It was in the Challenge Cup for ages 12 to 13 that our local heroines had the greatest strength. Their side of five gymnasts, who were against eight other well practised teams in a field of 43 entries, commenced on vault where Bethan Richards gained second place with Joanne Price and Rebecca Reid joint fifth, so they were off to a good start.

Asymmetric Bars next where Lucy Williams was placed second with her team mates keeping close behind. On Beam, Sophie Erickson top scored in fifth place before the team moved to the Floor where the whole team wowed the audience with their style and expression.

Here Rebecca was declared fourth. Lucy was then placed fifth overall in a very strong field. The marks throughout were a credit to their efforts and resulted in the girls taking the Team Championship title for 2001.

In the 14 plus age event one young lady had been obliged to withdraw leaving our girls a member short to constitute a team. Nonetheless Jessica Thain's second on Floor and third best value plus Sarah Sherlock's fifth Beam position and two very creditable overall scores kept the club flag flying high.

In the 10 and 11 years contest Shannon Haswell and Ceri Huish gained ninth and tenth places in a sizeable starting line. Both girls worked with style and confidence and show great promise for the future.

Penarth entered only two members in the Age Levels events.

Eleven-year-old Alice John, a Welsh Junior Squad member, did well to take first place on both Vault and Bars, fourth on Beam and Floor and fourth overall. Ten-year-old Elinor Lewis, fresh from the novice ranks gained second place on Bars, third on Vault, fourth on Floor and fourth overall.

Elinor's high total score qualifies her to go through to the British Finals in Guildford in November.