HER second overseas excursion with the New Zealand Development team was a big personal success for Whanganui gymnast Millie Manning who returned with a host of medals and trophies from her trip to Hawaii this month.
The 16-year-old star pupil of the Wanganui Boys & Girls Gym Club, who hasto train without peers at her Level 9 grade at the club, finished third overall at both the 'Gymnastics in Paradise' show on January 8-10 and the 'Aloha Gym Fest', January 15-17.
Manning put into practice the experience and confidence she gained with the Development team in Singapore the year before.
"Although Hawaii was more of a American competition, we were in much tougher competition," Manning said, already back training yesterday.
"It definitely tested my confidence, but I was more used to that international crowd from Singapore.
"If it had been my first international competition, it would have been hard."
Japanese and Australian gymnasts also entered the Hawaii events, although it was the Americans who were the ones to beat, taking 1-2 overall in Manning's Level 9 grades.
At the Paradise show, her best placings were bronze medals in the beam and the bar apparatus.
The following week, she won gold in the vault, silver on the floor routine and bronze on the bars.
"And if you get the overall [placings], yet get a trophy as well," Manning said.
It was a traditional island wooden trophy, which along with receiving a ceremonial sea shell, made for an interesting conversation when the New Zealanders came back through customs at Auckland.
"I just told them it had been treated [wood]."
Another big task for her now she is home will be sending off her impressive results to all her sponsors in a whole heap of "thank you" cards she will write. "It was massive, I raised half of what I needed [to travel] and the sponsors took care of the rest."
Manning has resumed training for gymnastics clinics in April, before the 2016 season starts in winter.
