Gymnastics: Wanganui gymnasts make the podium

Wanganui gymnast Eibhlin Lynch finished third on the balance beam in the step 1 competition in Palmerston North at the weekend. Photo/Robbie Hill

Competitive gymnasts representing the Wanganui Boys and Girls Gym Club returned home with well-earned podium finishes at the Palmerston North Open competition at the weekend.

Wanganui head coach Kelly Taylor-Ward said there were clubs competing from all over the lower and central North Island and the Wanganui team did very well earning placings, ribbons and medals.

In the girls' step 1 division, Dana Doyle and Courtney Fanin were first equal on vault and Eibhlin Lynch was third on beam and fifth overall.

In the step 3 division Crista Yum was second on beam. Timara Wallace won floor in step 5 and Genna Maples was first on vault and bar and third overall in step 7.

In the boys' level 1 competition, Seth Sims was third on floor, Jayden Fergusson was third on rings, second on parallel bars and fifth overall. The level 1 team of Dewalt Boshoff, Seth Sims and Jayden Fergusson placed third in the teams event.

In the level 2 competition, Cullen Cross gained bronze on vault. In the level 3 competition William Morrison was third on rings and vault. Joshua Hammond was second on parallel bars, third on high bar and second overall.

Kelly Taylor-Ward said Amardin Firaza competed very strongly with a second on floor and won on pommel, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar to claim the gold medal. William Warburton was third on vault in the level 4 competition and in the men's level 6 competition Jesse De Vincentis was third on pommel, second on vault and first on rings to take third overall.

"Two of our senior gymnasts, Millie Manning and Jonathan Maples competed in Rotorua on Saturday and Sunday in the Mid Island Gymsports competition," Taylor-Ward said.

"There was some very tough competition from the Auckland and central North Island clubs. Millie was third on vault, bar, beam and floor and third overall in the womens step 9 competition, while Jonathan was third on floor, second on vault and fourth overall in the men's level 7 competition."

All the gymnasts are back in the gym training for the Kapiti championships on June 28-29.

"Also coming up is our Wanganui Opens competition on the July 5-6. This is a great opportunity for the Wanganui public to come along and watch our talented gymnasts perform," Taylor-Ward said.