North Devon gymnasts bag a haul of medals

Gymnasts from North Devon were in the medals again after a brilliant spread of performances on the other side of the County.

North Devon Display Gymnastics Club competed at the Exeter Challenge Recreational Competition in Exeter with gymnasts in categories ranging from under 8 to over 10 years on floor, trampette, vault and beam.

For many of the gymnasts, this was their first experience of a competition and a wonderful response from these talented youngsters in a new and challenging environment.

In the girls’ Under-8 category, Bobbie-Rose Hooper showed great potential in her first ever competition. Gaining an all-around bronze medal, a silver for vault and floor, and a bronze for trampette, she proved she’s one to watch for the future.

The North Devon girls’ Under-10 gymnasts (Robyn Claydon, Izzy Pitcher, Lily Lofthouse, Isla Nock, Emily Broom and Christina Jenner) showed amazing team spirit with Christina taking a well-deserved gold in the all-around competition, with Izzy and Lily close behind in bronze and 5th place respectively.

Christina’s gold medal winning vault was the highest vault score of the day, a great achievement for a first competition. Every gymnast received a placing in the top six, with Lily gaining a gold on beam and Izzy a gold on floor.

A gold medal floor score for Bronte White in the Over-10 girls’ category also earned her the gold medal position all around for her beautiful routine. Bronte’s floor score was near perfect, only dropping .3 of a mark and was actually the highest score of the day across all age groups.

The Over-10 girls put in outstanding performances on all four pieces, coming away with a huge medal haul. The team of four girls (Bronte White, Florence Bridgman, Maddie Atkinson and Rose Heaton) took the top four medal placings all around in that order. They also bagged all the medals on vault, with Florence taking gold and a trampette gold for Bronte.

Coaches Jayne Poole and Vickie White said: “We are so proud of all the gymnasts, they have worked very hard and, for many of them, it was their first ever competition.” 

If you are interested in gymnastics and would like to be part of their success, visit the website www.northdevongymnastics.org.uk or email membership@northdevongymnastics.org.uk

The Club runs from its own gymnasium at Caddsdown Industrial Estate in Bideford. The main aim of the club is to constantly improve, providing integrated, progressive, gymnastics for boys and girls of all ages and abilities (where appropriate), in an enjoyable and safe environment.