Courtney’s double medal success at British Championships.

As a result of her recent success at the recent South West Championships, where she won gold, Courtney Hows (10) of the Esprit Academy in Stratton was selected to represent the South West at the British ‘Club Grades’ team championships in Kettering on Saturday 23 April. This competition brings together the best gymnasts from clubs all over England, Scotland and Wales and is always an extremely hard fought contest. The South West has an impressive record in the event winning 5 times in the last 7 years, so the pressure was really on to deliver the goods again this year.

Courtney and her team-mates from the Wilshire School of Gymnastics in Melksham and Olga in Pool, Dorset didn’t let anyone down beating off a strong challenge from the Welsh team to go on and take the team title, gold medals and an impressive trophy. To make things even better Courtney recorded a fantastic Bronze medal in the individual competition, her first ever National competition.

This result, a fantastic achievement, was recorded in front of an enormous crowd of what looked like thousands and must have been intimidating for such young children, but they equipped themselves well, not appearing nervous and all putting in some scintillating performances. At this level a simple wobble on the beam or bent leg at the wrong time can cost a team dearly and Courtney who had practiced her routine to the point where she was performing in her sleep didn’t let the atmosphere get to her, scoring well on every piece of apparatus. The margin was so tight that the top 3 gymnasts were only separated by less than 4 tenths of a mark, with the South West team also taking 4th and 5th places overall, only a small way behind Courtney.

It was this strength in depth that ensured the South West won the overall title and ensured the region remained at the top of the British Gymnastics tree for another year. Courtney said, “I really enjoyed the competition and was really pleased to have won the bronze medal, but our team winning gold was even better. I have made some great new friends and it’s brilliant to be part of the South West team, we all marched on together holding a sign saying ‘South West’, just like they do at the Olympics. We didn’t think we had won at first because the girls from Wales looked brilliant and we were really shocked, but so happy when the man announced ‘in first place and British, club grade 3, champions – The South West!’ all of the crowd cheered and clapped us as we received our medals and a great big trophy, it was the best.”

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