Gold, silver and bronze for Gisborne trio

Medal winners: Amy Baldacchino, Amber Kingsbeer, Baylee Crago from Gisborne Gymnastics Club. Pictureby Liam Clayton

Gisborne Gymnastics Club specialist tumblers took gold, silver and bronze at the Mid Island Champs in Rotorua.

Baylee Crago, competing in the junior international division, improved on his performance in Auckland this year to again take gold in his division.

Having only just transitioned into the international division this year after winning his age group at national level in 2016, Crago is making steady strides towards qualification as a New Zealand representative overseas next year.

Club coach Bruce Walters says Crago has an “extremely high” level of difficulty in his routines and has the potential to be on the podium at national and international level.

Another club gymnast, Amy Baldacchino, was competing in her first major event since she represented Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay in 2015.

She won silver in the 17-and-over age group.

Also representing Gisborne Gymnastics Club in the same division were Amber Kingsbeer, who won bronze, and Elisabeth Missen, who was fourth.

First-time tumblers Lauren Chambers and Jade Swann competed well in a large field of 11- and 12-year-old competitors, finishing fifth and seventh respectively

Both made finals in their first event and also achieved the qualifying mark to represent Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay in Christchurch this year.