Gymsports: Random pairing yields golden rapport

Bronwyn Dibb, 18, of Christchurch, who won the senior women's double mini-trampoline and synchronised trampoline categories of the Indo-Pacific Champs in Napier. PHOTO/GYMSPORTS NZ

THE double mini-trampoline was her favourite so a senior women's gold medal was arithmetic but a bling of the same denomination in the synchronised event was another story for Bronwyn Dibb.

Dibb's rapport with Rachel Schmidt , 21, of Auckland, on Saturday night is simply a testimony to believing in each other, considering they've known each other for a few years but had never competed in tandem until this weekend when coaches paired them off by default as Kiwi seniors.

"We kind of had gone with the flow and hoped for the best because we hadn't bounced together before coming here," says the 18-year-old from Ice Trampoline Club in Christchurch after the two-medal haul during the Indo-Pacific Trampoline and Tumbling Championship in Napier.

In synchronised trampolining, two athletes perform exactly the same routine of 10 skills (set, voluntarily) at the same time on two adjacent trampolines. A pair of judges score each athlete separately by for their form while additional judges score synchronisation.

The Nigel Humphreys-coached Dibbs is in her first Open World Championship in Denmark last year, Dibb was fourth going into her favourite double mini-trampoline discipline but finished eighth.

But it is her third Indo-Pacific championship at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale. She won three silvers and a bronze in the previous one two years ago in South Africa.

"After the prelims I was a little nervous because they weren't my best passes and I didn't have a very big lead but I knew I had my final passes so I was very happy with the way I hit them," she says of the double mini-trampoline, which she finds more challenging.

Last night she was competing in the individual trampoline event and was happy to simply complete her three routines.

Last year Dibb qualified for the World Games in Poland in July next year, claiming one of two spots.

She will attend a training camp in Perth in January with former American champion Austin

White who retired recently and was named US national coach.

Dibbs was flipping around and cartwheeling everywhere as a youngster so her mother, Chantel, signed her up for gymnastics.

Jayden Robinson-Patch, of Brisbane, won the 17-plus double mini-trampoline gold in his first Indo-Pacific appearance on Saturday.

For someone who frequents the Australian Nationals competitively in the finals in the same age group in tumbling and snychronised trampoline events, the victory came as a pleasant surprise.

"I was just coming for the experience, to be honest, to see what the international comp is like and where I can go with the rest of the countries around us to see how I'm sitting going into next year," said the 20-year-old Roberston Gymnastics Club member who receives coaching from Darren Gillis and Danielle Horne, of Brisbane.

The endorsement is affirmative for Robinson-Patch who rated this championship "the most fun I've had for a while".

He intends to return home and take his training to another level in the hope of making the Australia world age team.

"I'd like to do as many of these competitions as I can," said Robinson-Patch, putting the standard of the champs up there but mindful different countries placed emphasis on different skills.

He said "living in the moment" on Saturday did the trick for him.

A late bloomer in gymnastics, Robinson-Patch was a rugby league player but couldn't recall how one day a trampoline club caught his attention.

"I saw a trampoline and thought perfect and just jumped on it. From there I went up the ranks pretty quickly and them jumped a few clubs from there and ended up where I am today," he said, staying with rugby league for two more years before switching to gymnastics.

Robinson-Patch is a university student pursuing a degree in physiotherapy.
The championship in Napier continues today and will conclude with a closing ceremony from 2pm tomorrow.