Courtney joins the Elite

TEN-YEAR-OLD Courtney Hows has become the first `homegrown Swindon gymnast to reach the South West squad. The town has a legacy of producing talented gymnasts, but the likes of Jessica Coombes, Hannah Wickens and even four-times British champion Rebecca Jose previously had to travel out of the town because of the lack of top quality facilities in Swindon.

Hows, who trains at the Esprit Academy in Stratton, trialled at Bristol Hawkes and was picked to join the elite squad. She was second overall on the floor exercise and won the beam competition outright, all at her first attempt and just a year after the Espirit Academy opened.

Before that, she trained with her coach Katy Smith, who was instrumental in the fight to open a proper training venue in the town. Smith said: "It was vital that the children of Swindon had a proper venue to showcase their abilities and Courtney has proven to everyone that Swindon has the talent. This facility has been a long time coming, but as Courtney has proved, it was worth the wait".

Hows added: "I'm really pleased to have got in and to have won beam, now I'm looking forward to learning new moves, it will be fun.'

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