Leah on a mission

ON THE DOUBLE: Leah Scholefield, 15, is preparing for the Australian Gymnastics Championships. She will compete in the double mini-trampoline. Picture by Paul Rickard

LEAH Scholefield is in her 10th year of competing in trampoline and has learned to cope with pressure situations.

That will come in handy when she represents New Zealand at the Australian Gymnastics Championships next month.

Scholefield, 15, will compete in the double mini trampoline, which has become her specialty.

She leaves for Melbourne on May 27 and is due to compete on June 3.

Scholefield has been there before.

She won a bronze medal at the Australian nationals in 2017, teaming with Aucklander Abigail Mills in the synchronised category in the youth international division.

She did that despite shin splints worrying her in the lead-up. Aged 13 at the time, she also finished ninth on the tramp and 10th in double mini.

Gisborne Trampoline Club coach Doug Callahan and various coaches had taught her how to deal with different situations, she said.

Scholefield has represented New Zealand five times.

“My goal is to qualify for the worlds this year,” she said.

The Gisborne Girls’ High School Year 11 student is also a competitive rower.

Between rowing and trampoline, she can spend 20 hours a week on training.

Rowing helps build her strength but the season has just finished, allowing her to focus on trampolining

Scholefield lives on a farm at Whangara, between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay.

She first competed for New Zealand on trampoline when she was 9.

Scholefield said she had to be able to think quickly but practice put her in the right condition to perform.

“It’s all muscle memory.”

She liked that the sport was a bit out of the ordinary.

“People think it’s cool.”