Esprit girls make the grade
31 November 2007

Competition season draws towards a successful close at the National Rhythmic Gymnastics, Grades Finals 2007

Stratton based gymnastics club Esprit, travelled to the Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton-on-Trent for the National Grades Finals recently.

Five of the clubs gymnasts completed their years training with this, the year’s finale and competition to find the UK’s top, grades level gymnasts.

Youngsters, Freya Willcock, Ellie Morse and Ashleigh West (all under 9’s) competed at Grade 4 and performed two routines each. The combined scores from these added up to their final placing and all four girls excelled, finishing well up in large groups of gymnasts.

Freya Willcock, justifiably pleased with her efforts, finished in top spot for Esprit, but in the worst possible placing, for any top sports person, 4th overall and fractionally outside of bronze medal position. Ellie and Ashleigh, both also at the early stages of their gymnastics careers followed closely behind and can also be very pleased with their efforts.

Hannah Curtis (under 11’s), Esprit’s only competitor at Grade 6 proved her credentials by claiming a brilliant Silver Medal in her Ball routine. This helped Hannah to the Overall Bronze medal position and yet another podium finish.

The day’s success was complete when Esprit oldest competitor on the day, April Coombes (under 15) coming a very creditable 4th with both her Hoop and Ribbon routine, again missing out on a podium place by a very small margin.

A club spokesperson said, “these results are again exceptional, the standard of gymnastics in the UK is rising fast and the girls have to work extremely hard to maintain the very high standards the club is known for. By continuing to prove that they can compete with the very best in Britain, they can be sure they have done themselves, Esprit and Swindon very proud”.