Rewards for special gymnasts (From Penarth Times)

Rewards for special gymnasts

PENARTH Gym Club takes pride in demonstrating the ethos of Sport for All.

Recent issues have pictured children from their Recreational Classes who have won many awards in a Vale championship.

That event was designed for gymnasts who love the sport for the fun they derive from an undemanding training programme.

This policy is echoed in the club's Special Needs section where gymnasts with sensory, physical and learning disabilities also face challenges at all levels.

Five members of the special needs recreational class have returned from an event appropriate for their abilities that was held in Milton Keynes and returned with great pride, big smiles and a crop of medals.

Competitions were staged on floor, vault and beam for girls, floor and vault for boys and trampoline - a new discipline for the Penarthian, of both sexes.

The gymnasts were Rebecca Netherway, Victoria Robbins, Gareth Lloyd, Kiaran Parsons and Michael Netherway.

Results: Rebecca, 2nd tramp, 1st floor, 1st vault, 3rd beam; Victoria, 3rd tramp, 3rd floor, 3rd vault, 3rd beam; Gareth, 1st tramp, 4th floor, 3rd vault; Kiaran, 2nd tramp, 3rd floor, 1st vault; Michael 3rd tramp, 4th vault.

To top it all the youngsters returned with the team shield and hearts fit to burst with pride.

Accompanying coaches Jeff Savory and Andrea Robbins were so impressed that they are planning to take a bus full of competitors from the club next year.