Family links draw some to gymnastics

MEDAL PARADE: Medallists at the Gisborne Gymnastics Competition included Gisborne club members, back (from left): Capria Tamatea, Sacha Sims, Aria Thorpe, Joelle Ruru, Georgiana Elmer, Taylor Newman, Lily Rolls, Summer Ferris, Olivia Gardiner, Caitlin Winchester, Bethan Winchester, Isabel Arthur. Front: Jade Swann, Lauren Chambers, Sarai Gudgeon, Casey Willson, Charlie Keepa, Danielle Blair, Sophie Chambers, Ralo Bright, Sarah Hawkins. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gymnastics runs in some families, and this was evident at Gisborne Gymnastics Club’s annual competition last weekend.

Head coach Nicola Ludwig said she ran the competition for the first time 18 years ago, shortly after she started coaching for the club.

“It was very small as we had to establish it as an event,” she said.

“Over the years we grew and had some successful and very large events here.”

Ludwig was touched by the loyalty of the Walters family, she said.

Tiffany Walters was Level 6 champion in 2000. She wasn’t competing last weekend; she was supporting her niece, new Step 1 champion Capria Tamatea.

Capria also won the floor and was third on uneven bars.

“It will be a few years before Tiffany is supporting the event as a mum; her daughter is only one,” Ludwig said.

“No doubt gymnastics runs in the family.”

Gisborne gymnasts’ results —Step 1 girls — 8 years and over — Capria Tamatea: 1st overall, 1st on floor, 3rd on uneven bars, 4th on beam, 5th on vault. Georgiana Elmer: 3rd overall, 1st on beam, 3rd on vault, 4th on uneven bars, 7th on floor. Taylor Newman: 1st on uneven bars. Rianna Rennie: 2nd on vault. Joelle Ruru: 3rd on beam. Celena Bull: 5th on floor.

7yrs and under — Aria Thorpe: 2nd overall, 1st on floor and uneven bars, 2nd on vault and beam. Teams: Gisborne 1 (Aria Thorpe, Taylor Newman, Joelle Ruru, Capria Tamatea) 2nd behind Hastings.

Step 2 girls — 9 yrs and over — Lily Rolls: 3rd overall, 2nd on uneven bars and beam, 5th on vault, 8th on floor. Summer Ferris: 4th overall, 1st on vault, 4th on uneven bars, 6th on floor, 8th on beam. Helena Anderson: 6th overall, 4th on vault, 5th on uneven bars and floor. Caitlin Winchester: 2nd on beam, 4th on floor. Bethan Winchester: 6th on uneven bars and beam. Olivia Gardiner: 2nd on vault, 4th on beam. Ahenata Cotter-Luke: 6th on beam. Teams: Gisborne 1 (Lily Rolls, Summer Ferris, Caitlin Winchester, Olivia Gardiner) 2nd; Gisborne 3 (Ahenata Cotter-Luke, Sacha Sims, Isabel Arthur, Bethan Winchester) 3rd.

Step 3 girls — 9yrs and under — Sarah Hawkins: 1st overall, 1st on vault, uneven bars and beam, 2nd on floor.

10yrs and over — Sophie Chambers: 1st overall, 1st on vault, uneven bars and beam, 5th on floor. Charlie Keepa: 2nd overall, 2nd on beam, 3rd on floor, 5th on vault, 6th on uneven bars. Danielle Blair: 3rd overall, 3rd on beam, 4th on uneven bars, 5th on vault, 6th on floor. Hinerauiri Cotter-Luke: 5th overall, 3rd on vault, uneven bars and floor, 7th on beam. Casey Willson: 6th overall, 2nd on uneven bars, 4th on vault. Amelia Arthur: 4th on beam. Teams: Gisborne 1 (Sophie Chambers, Charlie Keepa, Sarah Hawkins, Danielle Blair) 1st; Gisborne 2 (Hinerauiri Cotter-Luke, Casey Willson, Amelia Arthur) 2nd.

Step 4 girls — Ralo Bright: 1st overall, 1st on vault, uneven bars and floor, 2nd on beam.

Step 5 girls — Sarai Gudgeon: 1st overall, 1st on vault, uneven bars, floor and beam.

Step 6 girls — 12yrs and under — Lauren Chambers: 1st overall, 1st on vault, uneven bars, floor and beam.

13yrs and above — Jade Swann: 1st overall, 1st on vault, uneven bars and floor, 2nd on beam.