Callahan's kids step up another level

MEDAL HAUL: Another competition, another swag of medals for Eastland Port Gisborne Trampoline Club, this time at the Midlands championships in Rotorua. Standing (from left) are: Ariki Campbell, Seth Miller, Brea Low, Leah Scholefield, coach Natalya Barber, Hannah Scholefield, Danielle van Aswegen, Ngature Tuhura and Mia Blot-Mouterde. Kneeling: Raine Lamont-Milner, Liam Walters and Parker Anderson. Absent: Kaiya Huta, Luke Low. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

THE excitement level from seeing new talent emerge remains as high as ever for Eastland Port Gisborne Trampoline Club coach Doug Callahan.

He has been producing champions up to international level for decades and 2017 appears to be no different, as was evident at the Midland championships in Rotorua last weekend.

The 23-strong Gisborne contingent filled the club coffers with 19 medals — seven gold, six silver and six bronze.

“I was rapt for the kids,” Callahan said.

“We usually win a lot of synchro medals but there was no synchro this time (due to the large number of competitors).”

Instead, the Gisborne club members competed in only individual disciplines — tramp, double-mini and power tumbling.

“They all stepped up another level,” a proud Callahan said.

He reserved special praise for new member Liam Walters and rising star Mia Blot-Mouterde.

Liam, in his first year with the club, was second on the tramp in the boys’ 10-years-and-under age group.

“He also qualified for the nationals in tramp and double-mini,” Callahan said.

French youngster Mia won gold on double-mini in the 10yrs-and-under girls’ division.

“She’s another up-and-comer,” Callahan said.

“She has beautiful form and is going to go a long way in trampoline.”

Hannah Scholefield won the club’s only medal in power tumbling — gold in the 17-years-plus women’s division. She also qualified for the nationals, an effort Callahan said was “fantastic”.

Seasoned international performer Kaiya Huta did the double in winning gold in tramp and double-mini in the men’s junior international class.

“He did everything I asked of him,” Callahan said.

“Kaiya is currently over in Aussie training for two weeks with a club in Sydney. He comes back next week and will get straight into competing (the North Island champs).”

Leah Scholefield continued her winning ways with double-mini gold in the sub-junior international division.

“She tried a new routine on the tramp and got third. She will only improve at the North Islands.”

Callahan said Brea Low won silver in tramp in the 17yrs-plus age group and gold on double-mini in the junior international class.

“This is her last year with me. She’s heading to university. I’ve told her to go out there and have fun. She’s a really neat girl to train and I’m going to miss her.”

Raine Lamont-Milner won gold in the youth men’s double-mini.

Meanwhile, the workload has been eased for Callahan, with Natalya Barber passing her exams with scores of 84 and 98 percent to become a qualified trampolining coach.

“It really takes the pressure off me,” Callahan said.

The club’s next competition outing is for the North Island championships in Auckland on July 22 and 23.