Gymnastics: Pippa Benton tumbles her way to national title

Fantastic Gymnastics' Pippa Benton has become the New Zealand national champion in the 15-16 year old open women's tumbling. Photo / Supplied

Northland can proudly boast another national champion, this time in the sport of tumbling.

Pippa Benton is now the New Zealand national champion in the 15-to-16-year-old open women's tumbling after an impressive showing at the Gymnastics National Championships.

The Fantastic Gymnastics member was in fine form as she comfortably took the gold in a tough field.

Her first pass set the tone for the day as she got scores of at least 8.5 from all five judges on a difficult routine to get an overall score of 28.5 for the effort.

That score would remain the pinnacle for the remainder of the event.

Benton followed that up with a 28.4 on a slightly more difficult routine.

Her first two totals were the only ones that surpassed an overall score of 28, leaving Benton in the box seat going into her final tumbling routine.

Benton hit a 27.6 on an 8.5 difficulty routine to become the national champion by 1.5 points with an overall total of 84.5.

Taranaki's Olivia Eiffe was in second on 83 while Laura Jones, also of Taranaki, and Bailey McCaughan from Canterbury were tied for third.