Seven golds to Gisborne at qualifiers

MEDALLISTS ONE AND ALL: Gisborne Trampoline Club athletes who competed in a North Island qualifying meet in Auckland last weekend were (from left) Parker Anderson, Ariki Campbell, Leah Scholefield, Kaiya Huta, Alissa Thomas, Jasper Florence and Charlie Holdsworth. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Gisborne Trampoline Club athletes brought back 11 medals from a North Island qualifying meet in Auckland last weekend.

Seven athletes from the club travelled north and won seven gold medals, three silver and one bronze.

Kaiya Huta competed with a cut foot that meant he couldn’t get the height needed for the high-level skills he wanted to show. Nevertheless, he won gold on the double mini tramp in the junior international men’s division, qualifying for the national championships in the process.

The injury occurred when he stepped on broken glass in the mud as he got out of the boat after waka ama paddling.

Club head coach Doug Callahan says Huta is working on a double somersault with a half-twist in and a half-twist out on the second somersault, as well as a triple somersault that he combines with a half-twist in and a half-twist out.

Huta, 17, has already qualified for the world championships in Japan in November.

Leah Scholefield won gold in the junior international women’s double mini tramp, qualifying for the New Zealand and Australian national champs.

With Amy Blind, of Auckland, Scholefield also won gold in synchro.

She just missed out on a trampoline podium but has qualified for the nationals.

Callahan says that with a little lift in her trampoline skills “she will be up there”.

Charlie Holdsworth and Parker Anderson won gold in the 10-and-under boys’ synchro. Anderson also won silver on trampoline and double mini tramp, while Holdsworth won bronze on double mini. Both qualified for nationals in double mini.

Callahan says they are ideal synchro partners.

“Parker’s form has improved with his concentration on conditioning, and he has excellent attitude and listening skills.

“Charlie shows potential and has a great attitude.”

Jasper Florence and Ariki Campbell won gold in the synchro for 13- and 14-year-old boys but know they will have to do even better to win gold at the central championships in Gisborne (April 26 to 28), Callahan says.

Florence has qualified for the nationals in the tramp and double mini.

Alissa Thomas won silver in the women’s 17-and-over double mini tramp.

“Her attitude and a great work ethic keep her up with the younger athletes,” Callahan said.

“In her routine she is doing a double back somersault and on double mini tramp she surprises with her form.”