Gymnastics: Big turn out for Wanganui club's Team Gym event

Competitors getting height at the Team Gym Display at the Wanganui Boys & Girls Gym Club on Sunday.

Around 167 gynmasts from eight lower North Island clubs took part in Sunday's Team Gym Event, hosted by the Wanganui Boys & Girls Gym Club at Springvale Stadium.

Competing in three divisions — Junior, Intermediate and Senior – the athletes performed an array of team-based routines, with plenty of flips, somersaults, round-off's, controlled tumbles and human pyramid stacking.

The popular event gives gymnasts a chance to train as a team and to work together to show their technical skills as well as their creativity and imagination.

It takes a lot of discipline, skill and fitness.

Little Lion Cubs represented the Wanganui club.

Wanganui club manager Nicky Rennie was thrilled with the day

"The feedback that we got from the Wellington clubs most especially was heart-warming," she said.

"Our club is in a re-building phase and to get so many positive comments from people outside of Whanganui gives us all hope.

"This club has over 400 Whanganui families who walk through its doors each week and to host such a successful competition is wonderful for the club."

The positive response comes at a time when the club, which is run by a small coaching staff and volunteers, is organising a major fundraising raffle, which is being launched with prizes totally over $17,000.

"This raffle will be essential for the survival of the club" says Nicky.

"We are giving away a car and a lot of prizes that will all stay local and benefit our community, most especially families."

On Sunday, the best performed of the local teams was the Little Lion Cubs, who came third in the Junior Division.

The team was: Chloe Mallet, Jayme McLean, Millie Richardson, Jacqui Linklater, Grace Ivory, Aria Hill, Bailee Jones, and Kirsty Stoneman.

They are coached by Kelly Taylor-Ward, Bolu Adesanya, Millie Manning and Briar Limpus.

Results

Junior Division: 1. Harbour City Gymsport Flamingoes; 2. Waikanae Gym Club Mini Magicians; 3. Wanganui Boys & Girls Gym Club The Lions Cubs.

Intermediate Division: 1. Capital Gymsports Fashionistas; 2. Harbour City Gymsports Magicians; 3. Waikanae Gym Club Mad Alice's.

Senior Division: 1. Harbour City Gym Sports Tourists; 2. Waikanae Gym Club Cirque du Waikanae; 3. Onslow Gym Club The Gatsby Gang.

Open Section: 1. Harbour City Gym Sports HCG Robots; 2. Rimutaka Gymsports Jackson Seven.