Gymnasts take top spots in novice championships

Last weekend it was the turn of Honiton Gymnastics Club’s stars of the future to display their prowess, as 52 gymnasts competed at the South West Club Development Championships in Sherborne, Dorset.

The results included two golds, a silver and three bronze medals.

Taking top honours were Grade 2 Group Daisy Spiller, Abigail Wilson & Libby Wray and Grade 1 Women’s Pair Chloe Hutsby and Hettie Behan. Chloe and Hettie raised the level even further, taking the top score of the whole day out of 133 partnerships.

Sisters Abigail, Katharine and Christiana Wilson also achieved a remarkable family feat, winning gold, silver and bronze medals in their respective disciplines.

“It was another very successful competition for us,” said Pamela Burns, senior club coach and club director, “with all of our gymnasts putting in credible performances. The regional club development competition is a new concept, so it’s great to have so many of our young gymnasts taking to the floor and representing Honiton at the event.

“I was extremely impressed with Chloe and Hettie, who were competing in their first external competition.  Chloe has only just turned seven, but their cheeky routine clearly impressed the judges, scoring 26.17. Daisy Abigail and Libby performed excellently too, outperforming 15 other partnerships in their category.”

Other Honiton medal winners were Grade 2 Mixed Pair Kian Thomas & Christiana Wilson (silver);  Grade 1 Women’s Pair Josie Cole & Georgia Greenslade (bronze); Grade 2 Group Ella Bryant, Katharine Wilson & Harleigh Fry (bronze); Grade 3 Women’s Pair Elwyn Spence & Daisy Day (bronze).

Honiton Gymnastics Club has grown tremendously over recent years, with this years’ early competitions seeing more than 120 gymnasts competing from the club. The not-for-profit club, on Ottery Moor Lane, also has more than 200 further members in its recreational and adult gymnastics groups.