Long road north is no problem for gymnasts (From Penarth Times)

Long road north is no problem for gymnasts

PENARTH Gym Club has competed in every Team Gym Champion-ships of Wales since its inception in 1991.

The event for 2005 was staged in Deeside, which is the only facility in the Principality that has a sprung floor area, and a full length tumble track which meets International Federation standards.

The distance provided the club with a perfect reason to mix business with pleasure, and a chance to spend a day in nearby Chester.

The date proved unfortunate in that this denied the club the chance to take part in this year's Penarth Holiday Festival, but the disappointment turned to delight when they discovered that Chester was holding its own Lord Mayor's Parade that very day.

After meeting royalists from the court of King Charles II, gladiators from Ancient Rome and street entertainers of all kinds, they boarded an open-top bus for a full tour and a rest before retiring to the hotel.

Next morning, with dedication to the task high, they set off for the venue.

Team Gym is comprised of championships in Jazz Gymnastics, Stream Tumbling and Team Trampette Vaulting.

Penarth fielded teams in all three of the events.

In the eight to 12 years championships, the ages of our local girls ranged from eight to nine plus one ten-year-old, but their extreme youth did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm.

Determination won through for a first in the high vaulting, second in jazz gym, second in tumbling and second overall.

So, Rebecca Bonutto, Thetis Drewellus, Chloe Fletcher, Natalie Gill, Kaylea Goddard, Shannon Hogg, Emily Powell, Carly Price, Florence Robinson, Aimee Smith, Francesca Urbano and Bethan Yapp earned one gold and three silver medals apiece.

The senior team had to overcome considerable training problems to get honed to competition pitch in the short time left after GCSEs and A-Level exams, but Sophie Erikson, Ceri Huish, Sarah Sherlock, Emily Woolley, Gabriella Urbano and Elin Yapp were ready for the fray, until Emily suffered an unfortunate injury whilst adjusting the high horse.

In the audience was reserve Elinor Lewis, who, recovering from a school athletics accident, bravely came into the side.

Their eventual placings were second on high vaulting, third on tumbling and third on jazz gym and in the overall placing.

The North Wales clubs were tough opponents, but Penarth GC is looking forward to challenging them again next year.