Esprit girls are having ‘a ball’

Success just seems come naturally for the talented young gymnasts of Esprit with excellent results just continuing to flood in. Just a week after Courtney Hows (8) became Swindon’s first ‘home grown’ member of the South West Artistic Gymnastic Squad, three young girls from the club secured Esprit their first National Championship Gold medal in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Micia Falaki (11), Jade Faulkner (11) and Laura Halford (9) visited Rhythmic Gymnastics National Duets & Trios Championships at Meadowside Leisure Centre, Burton-upon-Trent recently and at their very first attempt secured Gold for Esprit.

Unlike Artistic Gymnastics which is famous for its strength, balance and acrobatics, Rhythmic is all about poise, flexibility and exquisite dance whilst throwing, catching and balancing various equipment such as hoops, ribbons, clubs or, as in this case, a ball and the three Esprit gymnasts showed why Swindon is fast becoming ‘the centre of excellence’ for the sport in the South West, with gymnasts and the regions top coaches travelling to the facility to train.

Micia, Jade and Laura performed a beautiful routine to music that was, in the words of their coach Deb Hows, “almost faultless and well deserving of the gold medal”. Deb continued, “these three girls have not stopped working in the run up to this competition and were determined to give a good account of themselves, their throws were brilliant, perfectly in time and they caught everything. To win a medal of any colour at a National Championships is a major achievement but to win gold at the first attempt is nothing short of phenomenal.”

Straight after the event one of the trio, 9-year old Laura Halford had to travel to Cardiff for trials for the Welsh National Team. Last year, as reported in the Evening Advertiser, Laura was picked for the Welsh National Development Squad and after a successful year training with some of the best gymnasts in the UK had been invited to trial for the full Welsh National Squad. If successful Laura would become eligible to compete in International competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and World Youth Championships. The trial went well and as we write a very excited Laura was waiting with baited breath for the postman to arrive.

We will keep you posted as Laura will know her results within the next few days.

UNDER 12 TRIO – BALL RESULTS:

1 Jade Faulkner, Micia Falaki, Laura Halford – Esprit, Swindon 11.950

2 Rachel Gunn, Georgia Thresh, Holly Unsworth - Stockport 11.483

3 Bethany Castle, Joanna Matcham, Hekla Svarvasdottir - Canterbury 11.450

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