Hollington excel at British Semi-Finals

The 11 Hollington gymnasts competing in Coventry excelled themselves by winning five bronze medals and one silver.

From the 10 gymnasts competing at National Development Levels, seven of them qualified for the finals after finishing in the top eight.

An excellent standard of tumbling was on show with many groups in excess of 22 competitors from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Level one gymnast Kai Jerrey kicked-off the morning with three neat and well-executed tumbles to finish in third place.

Level two saw four of Hollington’s gymnasts take to the track and win a further two bronze medals. Luke Fisher regained composure after an uncharacteristic error left him in eighth place after his first tumble and completing his remaining tumbles at a personal best was enough to push him to a bronze medal.

In the 13+ men’s age group, Sam Boreham scored a season’s best to finish third. He actually led the group after run two, but was pipped to the post following his final somersault.

Competing at women’s level two, Maddy Thwaites had perhaps the toughest competition with 25 gymnasts in her class and finished a very creditable 10th.

Imogen Jarrett, competing in the 13+ age group, performed admirably following a recent injury. Her tumble of round off flic, tuck back was nailed to leave her in second place. Her remaining two tumbles were slightly under par, however, and in a tough group of 24 gymnasts, she finished 11th overall.

A slight error left Emily Kennedy just out of the medals in fourth place in the level three aged 11-12 group. Natalie Andrews gave a very creditable account of herself and finished 10th in a strongly contested competition.

Level four gymnast Charlotte Wynne Pennels performed a season’s best to finish eighth in the 13+ group, taking the last qualification spot for the finals.

In the same grade aged 11-12, Esme Campbell-Marshall stormed through her field to take the bronze medal with her final tumble scoring an impressive 9.40.

The final competitor for Hollington after a 14-hour day was level six gymnast Adam Davies. Despite limited training time, he pulled out a season’s best score and finished with a thoroughly deserved bronze.

Daina Rose made club history by competing at FIG level, the highest within the discipline. Although slightly nervous, she maintained poise to complete two complex runs, including multiple whips and somersaults, and finished with a fantastic silver medal in the women’s aged 17-18 group.

For more information on classes at Hollington Gymnastics Club, call (01424) 448301 or email [email protected]