TWELVE gymnasts from the East Norfolk Gymnastics Club took part in the Norfolk County Apparatus Finals held at the Norwich Gymnastics Club.

For many of the gymnasts it was their first competition and some have earned a place in the regional final for the top four on each piece in Ipswich at the end of this month.

In the youngest of the girls’ age groups for eight to nine years, both Olivia Miller and Olivia Halifax competed very well on beam and vault amongst a very large entry, and Olivia Halifax produced a very nice vault to earn her the bronze medal.

In the group for girls 10 to 11 years, ENGC had only one competitor, Shereen Allen. Competing on all four pieces of apparatus, Shereen showed all her talent to take the gold medals on beam and vault plus a fourth place for her floor routine.

In the group for those aged 12 and over, four girls represented the club, Sophie Smith, Ellie-Marie Crouch, Olivia Broughton and Ellis Nunn.

Due to the wide age range and varied amount of experience in this age band it gives the gymnast the strongest test in competition and medals are hard to achieve. However, Ellie-Marie performed to her best to finish in fourth place for her floor routine.

The second part of the day belonged to the boys, and in the group for eight to nine years, Dylan Saunders and Archie Nunn represented the club. Both performed brilliantly with Archie winning gold on the parallel bars with Dylan fourth. On the high bar it was Dylan’s turn to take gold with Archie taking fourth spot.

In the boys’ 10 to 11 years competition both Harry Lowe and Ben Phair, who were competing in their first ever competition, won through to the regional competition, Harry finishing fourth on the parallel bars and winning a bronze medal in the high bar. Ben also won through with a silver medal on the parallel bars, abronze on the vault and a fourth place on the high bar.

In the boys’ 12 and over, Kellen Brown performed very well despite carrying an injury and gained a fourth place on the parallel bars.

Coach Donald Carr said: ‘I am very pleased with the overall performances shown by all members of the club. For many it was their first time at competition and the number of medals won as well as the high finishing positions should spur them on to train harder for the regional final and further competitions next year.”

East Norfolk Gymnastics Club train three nights a week, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays at Ormiston Venture Academy, Oriel Avenue, Gorleston.

If any aspiring gymnast would like to try the sport then contact club secretary Terry Gasking on 01502 716852 or email tgasking@btinternet.com