Bill Slater Competition

This national event is the only national level event held in the North of England, and took place at City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy on October 26th 2008.

A bright Sunday morning saw us all sat in the gym for 7.30am, watching Dana work her magic with the make up. Blue and silver eyeliner to match the sparkly Alpha Factor Elite leotards. Stunning as always, Lauren Hearfield, Dana Murray, Charlotte Hoggarth, Tyla Earl , Caroline Hall, and Melissa Cook. We  set off for the first round on the Sunday morning. Would the judges be kind? We hoped so; training had gone well the last couple of days, so we were hopeful coaches that they would go clear.

Beam was first; we had given them the target to go clear and they had practiced well and gone clean in the gym. There were some nerves and a couple of  falls, but Melissa. Dana and Lauren were all clear; we were pleased.

Floor came next; huge tumbles from Caroline, leading the team with a clean floor routine, and amazing leaps, not a fidget or a leotard pull in sight, lol.  Lauren, what an amazing floor and the tumbles were huge, and, Tyla, you never moved your leotard -that's got to be a first!!  Smooth floors and lovely spins, Dana; you had alot of work to do on floor with 3 tumbles, but you got through, a great floor and good attitude. Just how we like it, Lottie; I loved the dance, and your leaps were huge.

Vault was next with some great vaulters on the team, and  I was promised no scary moments. Lottie, you delivered a spectacular Tzuk; well done, x.  Melissa, as promised you gave me a huge vault. Just what coachy ordered x. Caroline a massive tzuk, just learn to control it pleeeeease.  Lauren, the Handspring Queen, our marge, the baby of the group, wow!

Bars next. Tyla as you always do,  fantastic bars with neat lines and great ease, wow Tyla. Lottie, umm, missed your mo, but still a fab score. Carrot  lovely, Melissa you tried so hard and got back on and kept it going, well done.

To sum up girls, if you want to keep competing we need more difficulty. We need to be brave, as brave means Difficutly!!! But all in all you were a great team to go around with; you were all comfortable, maybe too comfortable and Melissa, a special word from me, YOU could not and have never ever let the team down. You have represented RGC at every competition in the last 7 years, and you could not have tried harder; the team could not have done without you!!

Girls; please work harder in the gym!! You can't play safe all the time. Your target was to score over 120 your team reached 157, excellent xx

Diane x

Pictures will go into the gallery and the scores will go on to the results page very soon.