On Sunday 30^th March, having lost an hour’s sleep due to the clocks changing; 50 MK Springers gymnasts arrived ready to compete in the Bucks County General Gymnastics competition. For many of these youngsters it was their first ever time to compete on a full size competition floor. MK Springers has clubs based in north, west and south Milton Keynes as well as in Roade in Northamptonshire. The gymnasts, some as young as 7yrs old enjoyed every minute of the day being cheered along by fellow team mates, as well as their families.

 The level 10 section saw 7yr old Freya Clark start the day by winning a bronze medal. Her team mates Erin Somes, Cassidy Timlin, Katie Strel and Jai Harper were very close in points also. Scott Pollock also 7yrs came away with a gold medal. The eight yrs old section had a very large entry, Lucy Handford, Stacey Arrowsmith, Amy Jelly, Jessica Nuttall, and Isabelle Thomas just missing out on medals. Nine yr old Laureece Lambert who was competing for the first time and team mate Shannon Timlin, both did very well. The nine yr old boys, both from Roade club saw Daniel Moakes winning bronze with Thomas Woolf only points behind him. The age 10 girls saw Olivia Vroome winning gold with team mates Isabelle Graves and Alexandra Miller both joint fourth closely followed by Elise Pollock, Shannon Barby, Sophie Pardoe. The eleven yr old section saw Charoltte Boardman and Caitlin Thomas both competing for the first time. Age eleven boys, Sam Woodhouse beat off some stiff competition to win gold, while in age twelve girls Samantha Rossiter come away with silver.

Level 9 again saw a big entry Ellie Wheeler and Ella Tuner winning gold and silver respectively with team mate Jodie Blackhurst just missing out on a medal. Nine yr old Lauren Presswell won bronze and again team mate Hannah Lovland, with twin sister Yasmin, together with Chloe Faulkner were just points away from a podium place. A gold medal was secured by Samuel Furzer. The age ten girls, Chloe Walpole, Fath Kimberly, Bronwyn Moulder, and Katy Smith showed good floor routines, while Thomas Shaw got gold. The eleven yr old girls were unlucky with Jessica Brown, Francesca Toomey, Kimberly Hill and Rebecca Furzer competing well but fourteen yr old Sarah Harding overcame first time nerves to receive a silver medal.

Level 8 saw the difficulty of the moves increasing and the competition began to really hot up, but ten yr old Lucy Jackson held her own to receive gold medal. Her team mates Zoe Rymer and Lucy Exley were points away from the medals also. Level seven had only two MK Springers gymnasts competing but after some quality flicks on floor Eleanor Broome received silver with twelve yr old Emily Beckett flying over the vault to receive bronze.  As with every Bucks County competition all the competing gymnasts received a certificate. Club Manager, Jean Heffer –Rahn who was also judging on the day said “I am so proud of all of these young gymnasts they work so hard at their sport and today they can show their mums/dads the entire family how they have achieved so much from gymnastics. These events build a gymnast’s confidence they are proud to wear their MK Springers leotard and show everyone how well they can do”

Bucks County General Gymnastics Competition

30th March 2008