Seven from five in North Island series

FIRST SINCE LOCKDOWN: A team from Gisborne Trampoline Club travelled to Auckland for their first competition since the Covid-19 lockdown. The five competitors won a total of seven medals. Team members are, back (from left): Logan Brown, coach Doug Callahan and Ngature Tuhura. Front: Tyler Sheldrake, Oliver Tilghman and Charlie Holdsworth.Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne Trampoline Club athletes had an outstanding set of results in their first competition since lockdown.

Five local athletes brought home seven medals — four gold and three bronze — from the Kiwi Clubs North Island Super Series event this month.

Charlie Holdsworth and Ngature Tuhura won the male Youth International synchro title to start the weekend on the front foot.

Ngature went on to win bronze in the Youth International trampoline and place sixth in the double mini tramp. Holdsworth placed fifth in both events.

The age-division grades were held on the second day of competition. In the division for those eight years old and under, Tyler Sheldrake won gold in both the trampoline and double mini tramp.

Sheldrake has a trampolining pedigree. His mother is Leigh Sheldrake (nee Webster), who won a silver medal in double mini tramp at the world championships.

Logan Brown earned bronze medals in the male 13-and-14-year trampoline and double mini tramp. He, too, comes from a family of decorated trampolinists. His mother is Bianca Shaw, who competed at world championship level.

Oliver Tilghman also travelled with the team, placing fifth in both trampoline and double mini in the male 11-and-12-year division.

Gisborne Trampoline Club head coach Doug Callahan said that although Oliver didn't medal, he got into the finals of both events.

“With a bit more height and degree of difficulty, he'll be right up there,” Callahan said.

“It is wonderful seeing the new generations coming through with the same energy and love of the sport.”

Callahan said they'd been training hard with their new equipment — a new trampoline and an airbag donated by Trust Tairawhiti.

Their next competition is in Auckland on November 28, where Lily Rolls and Capria Tamatea will be competing for the first time in the international division, looking to qualify for the New Zealand team.