More than 100 competitors descended on the Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics and delivered polished performances at the Northland Gymnastics Championships. Head coach Vicki MacDonald was impressed at the quality of gymnastics on display at the weekend - particularly in the male division. "Even though we didn't have many boys, the standard hasimproved," she said. "For the first time ever, we have two senior boys competing in level 7." WAGs has benefited from the knowledge of new coach Ben Farr who arrived from the United Kingdom last year. "He [Farr] is building up the boys' competition classes at WAGs. He was hoping to compete himself but, due to just becoming a new dad, sleep has become an issue," she said. The competition was ideal preparation for Northland gymnasts who have already qualified to contest the National Gymnastic Championships, which get under way on September 26 in Hamilton. The event also offered another chance for other Northland gymnasts to qualify for the nationals. Whangarei's Dana Hawkins boosted the Northland contingent headed for Hamilton when she took out the girls' level 4 division on Saturday. She will join clubmates Emily Brunker contesting level 4 at nationals, along with Jodi Burton, Jade Adams and Hannah Russell in level 5. Alice Riddell, Kyla MacKenzie and Kaitaia's Renae Dodds will contest in the level 6 competitions. Burton, Adams and Russell took out the podium places for level 5 on Saturday, finishing first, second and third respectively, while Riddell, MacKenzie and Dodds were the top three in level 6. Whangarei's William Dorahy, Sean Crook and Malcolm Patterson, who have already qualified for nationals in level 4, were the top three finishers in their boy's division on Sunday. Level 5 competitor Nick Sparrow and Jamie Barr-Mitcalf, in level 6, won their respective divisions and will be back in action in Hamilton. WAG's only senior boys, Carl Crook and Jono Boyd, finished first and second respectively in level 7 and will be at the Auckland Open Championships this weekend in an final attempt to qualify for the nationals.
