Bath International big success for Esprit!

9th December 2008

Fabulous 44 medal haul for Swindon gymnasts at Bath Open

The University of Bath hosts the fabulous annual 2-day International Rhythmic gymnastics festival and is the closest event in a packed calendar for Swindon based club Esprit Gymnastics.

20 Esprit gymnasts attended the event, at various levels and age groups and competed against a variety of gymnasts from all over the UK and this year gymnasts from Gibraltar and Austria as well.

The University campus in Bath is an incredible sports facility and the host club ‘City of Bath’ run by Sarah Binding again hosted a brilliant and well-attended event. From the junior beginners, through to those preparing for the upcoming British Championships, every one produced a high standard and the overall medal total was outstanding.

From the very youngest gymnasts, Katie Matfin, Cassy Harding, Jess Steele & Lauryn Williams, who took part in the Free & Hoop competition for children under 8 years old, to the most senior, Elise Hale (18) competing at Senior level, everyone had a story to tell.

Katie, only competed in Free but got off to great start, winning Bronze, Cassy Harding produced a clean sweep of the Gold medals with 1st place in Free and Hoop to win the overall title. She was followed by teammates Lauryn Williams with Silver in free, Bronze in Hoop and 2nd overall and Jess Steele who was 4th overall.

Caitlin Hewlett (Under 9) then produced 3 Silver medal-winning performances, 2nd overall, 2nd in Free and 2nd in Hoop. She was followed by Gabriela Caruso who took gold in rope and Silver in hoop to secure overall first place with team mates Ellie Morse 4th overall and Freya Willcock 3rd in Hoop and 5th overall in the under 10 National section.

Maya Lucas (under 11 National) then stepped up to secure her own trio of Bronze medals in Ball, Rope and overall. She was followed at under 12 National, by Hannah Curtis who had an amazing weekend, collecting all 4 Gold’s available, in rope, ball, clubs and the overall title.

The Novice gymnasts also equipped themselves very well with Katherine Baker taking Silver in free, Gold in Rope and the overall Gold. Ellouise Read collected Silver for her Free and the overall Bronze and Kate Faulkner won well-deserved Silver in Ball and 4th overall in her age group.

In the Intermediate section Tayshan Dowe produced a solid Silver in Rope, Bronze in Hoop for 2nd place overall and April Coombs, competing at Junior Intermediate level claimed bronze in Rope and Ball, Gold in Hoop and ribbon for the overall Silver medal position. Elise Hale and Rowan Gregg competing in the senior Intermediate section shared the honours, both with 2 Gold’s apiece, Rowan Hoop & Clubs and Elise Rope & Ribbon.

Gemma Rand, Micia Falaki and Jade Faulkner were the final competitors in the Junior Open section and both Micia and Gemma produced very some good work gaining 7th and 6th places respectively.

Team mate Jade finished off a great weekend by claiming yet more medals for Esprit with Silvers in Rope and Ball, Bronze in Ribbon and a Gold in Hoop to lift her into the overall Silver medal position.
The final announcement was the team competition, which saw Hannah, Micia and April in overall 5th place and Jade, Maya and Gemma in Silver medal position.

An excellent competition, which saw the Swindon Club on the podium more than 40 times over the weekend!