Wanganui's Jonathan Maples seen here competingon the ringsearlier this year at the Palmerston North Open Championships, is a solid chance at the nationals in Napier next month.
Wanganui's Jonathan Maples seen here competingon the ringsearlier this year at the Palmerston North Open Championships, is a solid chance at the nationals in Napier next month.
Wanganui gymnast Jonathan Maples has received special treatment reserved only for the top grade ahead of the National Gymsports Championships in Napier next month.
The 12-year-old member of the Wanganui Boys' and Girls' Gym Club (WBGGC) is already in the national under-14 development squad which gave him entry to aNorth Island training camp under the eye of some of the top men's artistic gymnastic (MAG) coaches in the country.
Maples was named in the national development squad after rigorous testing and was one of only two gymnasts outside of Auckland or Christchurch invited to the North Island training clinic at the Counties-Manukau Gymnasium at the weekend.
WBGGC competitive head coach Kelly Taylor-Ward said the clinic provided an opportunity for gymnasts and coaches to hone skills and techniques before October's nationals.
Maples is the most senior MAG gymnast in the Wanganui, Manawatu and Taranaki regions and occasionally travels as far as Kapiti to train at his level.
"This weekend's training was a great opportunity to see how prepared everyone else is for the nationals and to learn from New Zealand's top coaches," Taylor-Ward said.
"At Level 6 there is a large number of very good gymnasts and this year's nationals will be a tough competition with many talented athletes fighting for placings. Jonathan thoroughly enjoyed the two-day clinic and is looking forward to training with some of the techniques he learnt.
"His best apparatus is vault where he is hoping to compete a piked tsukahara - a half turn onto the vaulting table with a back somersault off in a pike position," Taylor-Ward said.
