Competition is Childs play for Southam Gymnastics youngsters

Competing against four other clubs, Southam’s 18 gymnasts all produced notable performances, with some of the athletes in the younger age categories battling it out with up to 22 rivals.

“We are extremely proud of all the gymnasts who have taken part,” said Childs.

“It is extremely difficult for children and young people to keep nerves in check when competing individually in front of a judge.

“It is also very different for our gymnasts to perform on Rugby’s sprung floor compared to mats on a hard floor at the Graham Adams Centre.

“It is really pleasing to have brought back six medals to Southam and we are grateful to Jo Wan from Rugby for providing this experience.”

In the eight to nine-year-olds’ A routine, Kayleigh Vosper produced her best-ever competition performances to take gold, scoring 8.75 on the floor and 9.3 on the vault.

Vosper was joined on the top of the podium by three more gymnasts from the Southam club.

Yasmin Pryor returned to form after illness in the A category of the ten to 11-year-olds thanks to a 9.25 on the floor and 9.3 on the vault.

She was just 0.5 ahead of team-mate Ruby Harvey, who had to be content with bronze.

Also in this category, Sophie Smales gained sixth place with 8.75 (floor) and 9.1 (vault), while Ria Becker can take confidence from her floor score of 8.1 and vault worth 9.0.

William Eadon pulled off his handspring flat back vault for the first time in competition for a score of 9.0, which was added to an 8.6 for the floor.

Chloe Brown, performing the most challenging routine of the day, gained gold in the 12+ B routine with excellent scores of 7.8 on the floor and 9.9 for the vault, while Ethan Barr took top spot in the A category, earning 10.1 for his well-executed handspring vault and 8.1 for his floor routine.

Abbie Belcher completed the medal haul with a silver in the six to seven-year-olds’ B routine, scoring 8.55 for the floor and 9.0 on the vault.

In the eight to nine-year-olds’ A routine, Elena Cadwallader narrowly missed out on a medal in her competitive debut, with her scores of 8.65 (floor) and 9.2 earning her fourth place.

Fellow debutants Freddie Stephens floor: 8.3; vault: 9.2) and Kirsty Taylor (floor: 8.3; vault: 9.3 also impressed in this category, while Kyra Beeston’s outstanding 9.4 in the vault was the perfect way for the rookie to announce herself in the eight to nine-year-olds’ A category.

Summer Calcutt (floor: 8.55; vault: 8.8), Lucy Davies (floor: 7.95; vault: 8.8), Phoebe Naismith-White (floor: 7.7; vault 9.9), Brittany Lowe (floor: 7.6; vault: 10.1) and Bethanie Abbott (floor: 8.5; vault: 9.4), who was still nursing an ankle injury picked up earlier in the week, completed the Southam contingent.

Southam Gymnastics currently have places in their Monday 3.30pm class for reception-age children.

For more details, call 07549 843339 or email southamgymnastics@hot mail.co.uk