Report from National Club Grades,   April 2010

The Weekend went extremely fast with lovely weather which added to the excitement.  The Region had a low entry due to the fact that most clubs were struggling with, perhaps, the criteria that once a gymnast has competed at National Grades, they cannot move back to the Club Grades thus ending their Grades careers.  This has had an impact.

However the Regional Qualifiers had gone well and Gymnasts from Redcar and Newcastle Represented the Region.  I have to say the Regional Kit looked stunning and we had another Region come over and ask who made it!

Alice Briggs (Redcar) was the only National Grade 8 to Represent the North; a first for Alice and she was very nervous, but sailed around.  Alice knew the competition would be tough, and having no Team had an impact, but she looked great holding the Regional Board with great Pride.  A clean competition was her target and she did that.

National Grade 6 were next; Gymnasts, representing the Region, were Amy Whitehead and Sophie Lee from CONGA and Vicky Fowler (Redcar).  Vicky had been nervous as this was her first National Final to represent the Region, but as soon as she started the nerves were a thing of the past, the girls were lovely and all got on really well supporting each other.  One problem on vault though, we were on first rotation and there was no Yurchenko surround in the Building; woops. Continental had to drive over to the Europeans to pick one up.  The mums and dads must have wondered why the other girls were not vaulting.  The girls from CONGA got their turn after the first rotation; they did a great job for the Region, all going clear a great job done.

Saturday over, the Coaches could relax, until tomorrow.

National Grade 7, Sunday; again a lovely morning.  the team representing the Region were, Lauren Hearfield, (Redcar), Beth Barrett-Gibson (CONGA) and Rachel Burden (CONGA); the team looked great; again all very supportive of each other.  Bars were lovely, and the team screamed and cheered as all the bars went clean.  Beam went well with Lauren and Beth managing to hold on and stay on.  Floor was next Lauren held all her landings, whilst Beth and Rachel did the most amazing floors, with some lovely choreography.  Team 5^th.

Well done to all the Gymnasts and Coaches.