Medal joy for gymnasts

7:20am Thursday 13th November 2008

TWO weeks ago, Penarth Gymnastics Club were just a short distance from the millionaire Sandbanks Estate in Poole, Dorset.

There, they proved that they too have the golden touch plus a taste for silver and bronze but in the sporting rather than the business field!

The Poole Open is an annual event for gymnasts with sensory, physical and learning difficulties, but none would have guessed that to be the case as our young people battled for supremacy in a field that had come from all parts of the UK and the Channel Islands.

They train at Penarth's Pier Pavilian several times a week, and monthly with the Welsh National Squad, and are a creditable image of the youth of the Vale of Glamorgan.

In the various level and age ranges they competed on three apparatus the males worked on Parallel Bars, Floor and Vault and the girls on Beam, Floor and Vault.

Both Rebecca Netherway and Gareth Lloyd were each awarded three gold medals; Kiaran took 1 gold and 2 silvers; James Savory won 1 gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze; Anna Musson went home with 1 gold and 1 silver; Michael Netherway can boast 1 silver; Cleo Drewellus secured 1 gold and 1 bronze; Christopher Bleay was delighted to take home a gold in his first ever away event.

So near and yet so far Daniel Smith took 4th place in each of his events, but showed true sporting spirit as he cheered the victories of his friends.

The very same weekend other coaches of Penarth GC were in the Welsh Institute of Sport for mainstream Womens Artistic Novice Championships.

The local team of Florence Robinson, Emily Powell and Kaylea Goddard were placed third in the 12/13 years team event - just 0.5 behind Neath Afan.

Haverfordwest GC were declared Team Champions. Kaylea also proudly took 2nd place in the floorwork section.

In the competition for 8 and 9 year olds, little Elin Matthews mounted the rostrum for the silver, medal jumping into 2nd place on vault.

So at home and away, our gymnasts show that their occupation of the Penarth Pier Pavilion definitely benefits the young of the town!

Just what will they produce when the planning application for the building of their new dedicated facility is approved?