Report from our Annual Club Competition, Dennis Hamer Championships

This year we saw the competition held over two days.  Last year was just way too hectic; too many people for a single day, so we held it over one weekend.

Saturday saw the Recreation Section, the Boys Elite and the Floor and Vault squad all come together to take part in a fun day.

We saw some great gymnastics, and everyone had a happy face. The presentation took forever, with loads and loads of medals, trophies and individual awards.

The Recreation side had to pick five skills on floor from the BG badges, and perform them in a line; I saw some great displays from Amy Wilson and Melissa Hatton, well done everyone in this section.

The boys amazed me; oh my word have they come on, some new boys such as Michael Kelly producing some amazing vaults, with  Harrison Watkins standing out with a fantastic floor, William King smiling as he performed a seriously stylish floor routine. Well done to all the Boys!

Our Floor and Vault squad looked great with some new skills for some Helen Gawthorpe, performing her handspring vault for the first time, and Antonia Jackson showing us an amazing floor! Antonia; where did that come from?  I saw some lovely leaps and dance from Anna Heath the newest F and V member.

Saturday competition was over and the awards for the most improved gymnast on Saturday were ready to give out.

The Boys Section award went to Alex Smith. Three words, smile, happy and committed, come to mind when we think of this gymnast.  He has been here for as long as we have had a boy’s squad, I think. We can always rely on how he trains, sometimes not as hard as he should but always with a smile!  This gymnast has worked alongside older boys for some time now, his coaches are pleased with his achievements, and he is polite and cheerful with everyone.  He will chat to everyone, and is just a lovely young man, his parents should be very proud; we are.

The Floor and Vault Section award went to a gymnast who has  made the most improvement, is a hard working young lady, with a nice kind nature, she is a pleasure to have in the group, and has competed this year at every competition, and won medals for the squad and the gym club.  Well done to Mia Flood.

Sunday Club Competition.  Oh this day was going to be interesting, not least if it actually stopped snowing; with some cancellations from parents who lived further afield, and some who came late for their rounds but nothing was going to stop us!

Competition under way, we changed the format. The older girls, the General Squad and the Elite Squad ran on like the Bill Slater competition, showing a skill and waving, this speeded the competition up and was fun too.

The groups were set in ability order, and it was interesting seeing how the groups came out, with some surprises too.

The senior Elite Girls had some new skills, with Tyla Earl trying her mo, Lauren competing a massive double back and Chloe Robinson smiled all the way through.

The General Squad seniors looked happy with some lovely new floor routines. Lauren Flood’s new one is gorgeous; so different. I saw a fantastic vault from Vanessa, and a lovely set of bars from Megan Bailey.

A deserving Megan Robertson picked up the most improved gymnast in the General Squad.   What can we say about this Gymnast? She has certainly been with us for some time, a gymnast who has earned this award through commitment and working hard.  We used to worry that she didn’t like gym; she used to get upset, and was always timid, but never missed a session.  Her friends left the group and she was left on her own, she is a dedicated RGC gymnast. Her friends in the club love her, and I’m sure as she gets older the little ones will look at her and think she will make a good friend.  Her coaches have been pleased with her work of late, and she has made her grades the last two years, sometimes with days to spare.  The longest legs ever and a huge smile.

The most improved in the Elite Section went to Mae Hill.  What can we say; this gymnast has been in the gym for some time now, although is still young. She is a determined, strong and graceful winner, always tries and gets through all her tasks.  She has two regional titles under her belt in 2010 and has been placed nationally on Beam.  She has the most gorgeous lines works at home and is a total pleasure to coach. Sometimes she thinks she can’t do something and then surprises herself.  In the early days this gymnast cried when she came to gym, cried when she didn’t; it’s hard to think she was so worried now, she smiles so much.

That would be the last presentation, the parents and gymnasts thought, but we had some very special awards to give. First, we had an award for the coach of the year, this went to Carol Barwick; well done Carol.

The next set of awards were so special, these were awards for gymnasts from gymnasts!  The children had to choose who in their section they thought was the kindest, most caring, and most helpful gymnast. They had to choose who they thought had behaved and acted with sportsman like behaviour.

The children`s choice

Boys Squad,             Oliver Livingstone

General Squad         Vanessa Barwick

Elite Squad               Hannah Peggs

Two other special awards were also given out for ten years service to Redcar Gymnastics.

DANA MURRAY

 Dana oh Dana! A truly remarkable young lady, with a fantastic smile.  I do not remember any time, or any occasion we have ever had to have a cross word, or a time when you have not tried. In your early days, you smiled your way through every session, even today you are the happiest young lady, I wish all gymnasts were like you.

My most memorable memory is in Israel at the Maccabiah Games, you made me so proud; the little girl with the biggest smile had grown up, and you were competing for your Country.  Such a huge honour for the Club and yourself. You were asked for certain skills before we went and you met all your targets. Of course the swim in the Dead Sea was memorable, but that walk in to Ramat -Gann Stadium was awesome. Thank you Dana because I would never have experienced that without you, and all your hard work and of course some of mine!

Of course, I remember the scary moments, when you decided at a Regional Competition one year to do three giants and bounced off all the bars do you remember Dana you flew!! So you have given us some uplifting moments too, Dippy Dana.

Dana  RGC is proud to have had you in our gym, your team mates adore you, all the little ones love you.  It is sad to think that your recent competition was your last, it will be strange not to see you smiling in the line up. We all thank you; for without you and all your efforts in your gymnastics, all the little ones coming through would not be so good. Good luck in all you do, remember we love you and thank you for being such a fantastic gymnast and a very special young lady.

CAROLINE HALL

We wanted to reward the hard work and dedication and achievements you have given to Redcar Gymnastics Club over the last TEN years.

You have been a happy, hard working gymnast, always smiling; you have overcome injury.  Everyone loves you; your dedication has been overwhelming, often coming back from holidays to train. All the little gymnasts look up to you and your coaching skills are great.

My most memorable memory of these last ten years has to be the time you managed to stay on the beam, working the theory a move at a time! Your face said it all, if I could bottle that moment I would, a smile as always big enough to melt any heart, and make most of us cry!

Gymnastics for you has not been without hardship, you have had to train around injury, but have never ever been beaten and even to this day will work and work.

Thank you Caroline for giving Redcar Gym Club such a fantastic gymnast, for being happy, for being reliable as a team member for your team mates, but most of all Caroline, remember we love you and we are always here whenever you need us, and you will never, ever escape, you are a valued member of the coaching team now, good luck Carrot!!!!,   In all you do, we have always been and will stay so proud of you. “Our Carrot.”