Welsh title for Elinor (From Penarth Times)

Welsh title for Elinor

THE MIGHTY atom of Penarth Gym Club has another title to tuck under her belt.

Young Elinor Lewis accrued an incredible 92.7% of the possible marks in her event at the recent Welsh Grades Championships.

Of the 204 competitors from all grades and age groups only three scored the necessary points to gain a distinction and Elinor's average was the highest. Having top scored on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor she swept to first place overall and secured herself a place in the British Final for Club Grade 3.

Sarah Sherlock is so keen to stay in the sport of her choice that she now travels from Pontypridd to train with her club. She had a great day with a third place and two fifths out of her four apparatus events, but with only four gymnasts qualifying for GB finals in each grade she misses the trip to Guildford by 1.2.

In Club Grade 5 Rhiannon Morris top scored with a powerful vault and danced into third place on Floor but her Beam score dropped her to 7th overall. Rhiannon's recent progress bodes well for championships due later in the year.

Three very young newcomers to the Penarth competitive squad were entered for the Grade 6 event. Francesca Urbano, Alisha Masani and Kaylea Goddard gave delightful performances. Francesca and Kaylea were joint third on Vault with Alisha only three behind.

Four Penarthians entered the Club Grade 2 section. Rebecca Reid gave a near faultless performance of tumbling and dance to top score on Floor with 9.2,

Joanna Price was fourth on Vault and fifth on Bars, Sophie Erickson fourth on Bars and sixth overall despite having returned from holidaying abroad only hours before.

And Lucy Williams's elegant floor routine to Rhapsody in Blue gained her third Floor placing which, added to her fifth position on Vault and Bars placed her fourth overall and into the British Finals.

The Penarth competitive squad has grown considerably over the past year with members aged from five to 16 years.

Added to this, the club's special needs section now boasts ten members in the Welsh Squad, two of whom are awaiting news of possible selection for the British Disabilities squad.

With busy recreational classes, three gymini classes and another in the pipeline, the coaches of all sections are clearly determined to perpetuate the club's 41 year commitment to the young people of Penarth and beyond.

Despite the primitive conditions in which they operate, there are waiting lists for all classes and their quest for a gymnasium worthy of the work they do goes on.