3
July 2006
Wiltshire ‘Wonders’
As
far as Artistic Gymnastic competitions are concerned,
none are more competitive and well attended than the Wiltshire
Level’s. An annual event for the best gymnasts in
Wiltshire to try and secure the coveted title of Wiltshire
Champion.
The
competition covers children of various ages, from those
as young as 7 years old, just starting their gymnastic
training through to the older FIG competitors in training
for the British Championships and beyond. But every level
was just as fiercely contested.
Swindon
club Esprit gymnastics has had some excellent results
at these championships in previous years, but this year
had to be one of the very best, with the clubs gymnasts
returning with a haul of championship medals and trophy’s
from every section they entered.
First up was Hannah Curtis (10) and Georgia Clements (10)
performing at level 4. Both girls performed brilliantly
and Hannah got the result and Esprit’s first Gold
medal of the day. Georgia was just a short way behind
with another impressive bronze to add to her medal collection.
In
the very next group Ellie Barrett (11) and Erin Milroy
(11) took a great One, Two, with Ellie getting another
great Gold ahead of team-mate Erin who closely followed
her with the Silver medal.
In
the 13-year age group it was Esprit again that took the
honours and an emotional Emily Upshall brought the house
down with one of the most impressive results of the day.
Not only winning Gold but securing the highest level 4
score of the day and the title of ‘Level 4 Wiltshire
Champion!’ We are all very sure we saw more than
just a single tear from proud mum Val and it was a result
that justified Emily’s love of her gymnastics as
well as her hard work and faultless determination.
From
this point on the day just got better and better with
Esprit’s 9 year old youngster Abbie Mackenzie, competing
at Level 4 (in age), proving why she already has a top
20 UK ranking with another impressive performance coming
home in 6th place. 
Daisy
Rolt and Carla Williams, both 11 again turned in exceptional
performances and this time Carla got the result over Daisy
with Carla winning Silver and Daisy a well-deserved Bronze
close behind Wiltshire’s Katherine Turner who took
the Gold.
Last gymnast of the day to compete was Courtney Hows (11)
who, whilst not quite being able to match last years Gold,
was still only 9 tenths of a mark behind Wiltshire gymnast
India-Rose Mills with a great silver medal at Level 2.
However
that wasn’t the end of it for Courtney, the final
announcement of the day was to award the ‘Rod Lewis’
Rose Bowl, an impressive trophy that goes to the gymnast
who has achieved the highest score on any piece of apparatus
throughout the ‘whole’ day of competition
and over 240 individual routines. The award went to Courtney
for her brilliantly executed floor routine and was the
end to a perfect day of competition for Esprit’s
very tired, but very satisfied gymnasts.
Chairman
of the club, Mark Hows said, “Esprit has a motto
that say’s at Esprit, EVERY child is a champion,
with results like this it looks like it could literally
be coming true. All the girl’s work so hard, they
truly deserve their success, we are all very proud of
them, as they should be of themselves.
