Rotorua gymnasts excel at national championships

Mid Island Gym Sports members Michael Stanley (left) and Shayne Buckeridge achieved pleasing results at the National Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Photo / File

Mid Island Gym Sport (MIGS) gymnasts, representing Bay of Plenty for the first time, have achieved outstanding results.

The club, which had previously represented Waikato at national events, got its first opportunity in the Bay colours at the New Zealand Gymnastics Championships during the school holidays.

The championships were shared between regions - Auckland hosted rhythmic and aerobics, Nelson hosted artistic and Christchurch played home to trampoline. Overall 16 MIGS gymnasts competed.

In the men's artistic gymnastics, Michael Stanley competed in the Level 8 competition and is now the New Zealand champion after taking gold in high bar and pommel and bronze on the floor and rings. He was also a member of the New Zealand transtasman team and placed with a silver for team and bronze on floor, high bar and pommel. Stanley also received the New Zealand MAG Senior Levels Gymnast of the Year trophy.

Shayne Buckeridge-Morrison competed in the Level 7 competition and placed second all around with a gold on high bar, silver on parallel bars and bronze on rings and pommel. Next month Stanley and Buckeridge-Morrison travel to Texas to represent New Zealand at the Valeri Liukin Invitational, one of the largest and longest-running international competitions in the USA.

The MAGS gymnasts were also dominant in the trampoline and tumbling disciplines.

In the Women's Youth International Synchronised Trampoline, Tyla Black won silver and Willow Smith won bronze. Jacob Rapana won gold in the Men's Youth International Synchronised Trampoline.

Emma Jenkin enjoyed a successful outing, winning gold in the 17 and over Synchronised Trampoline and Double-Mini Trampoline, and silver in the Individual Trampoline.

Claire Hughes won silver in the 13-14 years Women's Synchronised Trampoline and bronze in the 13-14 years Women's Individual Trampoline.

Alistair Ball won silver in the 13-14 years Men's Individual Trampoline and bronze in the 13-14 years Men's Double-mini Trampoline.

Laura Walton and Marissa Light won silver in the 11-12 years Womens Synchronised Trampoline, Aaria Tana and Maia Robertson-Pene won bronze.

Two MAGS athletes competed in the power tumbling. Tara Jordan won gold in the Women's Junior International and Clarie Hughes won bronze in the Women's 13-14 years.

MAGS centre manager Lynette Farkash said the championships were a valuable experience for the gymnasts and everyone at the club was proud of their results.

"[Michael Stanley] did really well, he was outstanding. This is the first time he's held a national title, which is a big deal for him, and then to get the award for gymnast of the year was really the icing on the cake.

"I was really proud of everyone. Some of the kids didn't medal but they got personal bests and that is just as important.

"It was a really good experience and being part of the Bay of Plenty team they got to meet kids from other clubs and spend time with them, so they formed friendships and were able to test themselves against people from all over the country," Farkash said.