British Schools silver medals for Honiton gymnasts

Two Honiton Gymnastics Club gymnasts have made their mark on the national stage, winning silver medals in the British Schools Gymnastics Finals at the weekend.

Catie Lee and Erin Blackmore, pupils at Littletown Primary School, came second in the Under 11 Girls’ Pair category at the competition in Stoke-on-Trent

The tough competition, which saw the 14 best partnerships competing against each from other regions across the UK, rewards those gymnasts who perform fundamental acrobatic gymnastics with flawless execution and artistic merit.

Both girls are usually the ones being lifted up and balanced in the air by other partners, but for the schools competition Catie was the ‘base’ and Erin the ‘top’ of the girls’ pair.

Both girls are in the ‘Squad Acrobatics’ group at Honiton Gymnastics Club, and train for more than 10 hours each week.

High performance coach Helen Nayler said: “The girls performed exceptionally well, and their choreography and technical execution were excellent.  The event is very competitive, and the weekend even included World and European champions at their age groups.  It is a great introduction to the sport, a good way to perfect the fundamental skills, and a first-rate way for them to work on choreography together, while having fun at school at the same time.”

Catie and Erin won there way through to the finals when they were recently judged to be the best schools acrobatic pair in the south west region recently.  They were the only members of Honiton Gymnastics Club to make it through to the British Schools Finals.