PENARTH and Vale Gymnasts have been enjoying huge success since they started their competitive season at the end of October.

Gymnasts from a variety of levels have been competing and successfully winning a huge haul of medals.

At the recent Gym Spire competition held at Abercynon, gymnasts as young as five-years-old were enjoying medal success. In the under-8 section, Callie Osborne, Bethan Fleet, Grace Williams and Sofia Balfry performed on a range of apparatus and were crowded under-8 South Central team champions.

Callie Osbourne also collected medals on vault and trampette, first on the floor and placed second overall in the individual competition.

Bethan Fleet was awarded ribbons on vault and trampette and came in fourth place overall.

Finally Grace Williams struggled to carry her winning medals from the arena, winning medals on floor, vault and trampette as well as third place in the individual competition. A great start for these young gymnasts.

Also competing in round one from Penarth and Vale Gymnastics was Georgia Marshall-Jones in the 12 plus section, she performed extremely well and was awarded fourth place for her floor routine.

In the under-10 section Penarth entered two gymnasts, Eva Kibblewhite and Amelia Balfry.

Eva took overall South Central Champion as well as winning the floor and vault competition.

Amelia Balfry placed in overall fourth position and was awarded third on floor and vault and fourth on trampette. Both gymnasts were selected to represent the South Central area in the Welsh finals, competing against gymnasts from all over Wales.

The next group to take the arena were the gymnasts in the under-12 section. Penarth’s team consisted of Mia McCafferty, Abbie Edwards and Maisie Sullivan.

The girls performed brilliantly on the floor, vault and trampette allowing them to claim victory overall in the team competition.

Abbie Edwards was awarded fifth place on the floor and Mia McCafferty won both the trampette and vault and placed third on the floor, Mia also took the overall individual title and was crowned South Central Under-12 Champion.

Mia was also selected to represent for the team that would represent the South Central area. All coaching staff and parents were thrilled for all of the competing gymnasts and their successful performances.

The Gym Spire Welsh finals took place last week and once again Penarth and Vale gymnasts were out to perform well.

Firstly Eva Kibblewhite and Amelia Balfry performed in the under-10 section, with gymnasts from all over Wales who had been selected to compete.

Both girls performed exceptionally well, both being awarded ribbons and medals. Amelia Balfry was awarded sixth place on floor and a team silver medal. Eva placed fourth on trampette and vault and sixth overall as well as receiving her silver medal in the team competition.

In between the Gym Spire Championships and Welsh finals Penarth and Vale's gymnasts were out competing again. The girls travelled to Pen Y Bont Gymnastics to represent the club in the South Central Novice competition.

Gymnasts in this competition had to compete over four pieces of apparatus, on the bars, beam, vault and floor.

More than 150 gymnasts took part in the competition across the varying age groups.

In the age nine section Eva Kibblewhite placed sixth on bars. In the 10-11 section, Mia McCafferty, Pheobe Williams, Parys Lawrence, Tamsin Williams and Cerys Stokes all performed extremely well.

Mia McCafferty came first on the bars and fifth on floor. Pheobe Williams was awarded first on vault, fourth on floor and fifth on bars. Tamsin Williams placed third on floor and fifth in the all-round competition.

The team finished in overall fourth position. Coaches and parents were extremely proud of the girl’s and their performances.

Penarth and Vale Gymnastics would like to thank all of the coaching staff for their time and efforts in coaching the gymnasts and helping to maintain the club’s success.

Penarth and Vale Gymnastics is situated on the Ty Verlon Industrial Estate, Barry.

For further details please contact Lesley McJennett on 07858773974 or email penarthandvalegymnastics@hotmail.com