First competition of year under their belts

IN TRAINING: Gisborne Gymnastics Club members are training for their next competition. They are, back (from left): Joelle Ruru, Aria Thorpe, Haley Rolls and Sarah Hawkins. Middle: Casey Wilson, Charlie Keepa, Danielle Blair, Sophie Chambers, Lily Rolls, Sarai Gudgeon and Kay-Lynne Cabral, Front: Jade Swann, Milton Malmberg, Callum Hawkins and Lauren Chambers. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne Gymnastics Club competitors have had their first competition of the year, and for many it was their first ever.

Gymnasts competed at Hastings, Taupo or Napier, depending on their division.

“The first competition is always the hardest as they perform new skills and routines,” coach Keely Phillips said.

“It was the first time competing for most of our Step 1 gymnasts, and we had outstanding results.”

In Hastings, first-time competitor Aria Thorpe was second overall. She placed first on vault, second on bars, third on beam and fourth on floor.

Haley Rolls was third overall, second on floor, third on vault and bar, and fourth on beam.

Joelle Ruru placed third overall and first on beam with a score of 14.25 out of 15, fourth on vault.

Taylor Newman placed fourth on beam, and Georgiana Elmer placed fifth on floor.

Step 2 gymnasts also competed in Hastings. Lily Rolls was fourth overall, third on beam and fourth on bar.

Casey Wilson was first on beam, and Kay-Lynne Cabral was fourth on vault.

The Step 2 Gisborne team — Helena Anderson, Cabral, Wilson and Rolls — placed third.

In Step 3 competition in Hastings, Sarah Hawkins was third overall, first on floor, second on vault, third on bar and fourth on beam.

Sophie Chambers was fifth overall, first on bar and fifth-equal on floor.

Charlie Keepa was sixth overall, second on floor and sixth on vault and beam.

Danielle Blair was fifth on bar and beam.

The Step 3 Gisborne team — Blair, Keepa, Hawkins and Chambers — placed second.

In Step 4 competition in Taupo, Sarai Gudgeon was third overall and third on bar. She will compete in Step 5 at her next competition, in Rotorua.

Also in Step 4, Ralo Bright placed second on vault and beam, and fourth on floor.

In Step 5, Gloria Allen was fourth overall and fourth on vault, bar, beam and floor.

In Step 6, Jade Swann was second overall, first on vault, second on beam and floor, and third on bar.

Lauren Chambers was third overall, second on floor and third on vault, bar and beam.

In boys’ competition in Napier, Milton Malmberg (Level 2) was first overall at his first competition, first on rings and high bar, second on floor and third on parallel bars, out of 14.

Callum Hawkins (Level 3) was first overall, first on rings and high bar, and third on pommel horse, out of six.