The Cheshire Academy Gymnasts

Twins Jamie and David Roby (aged 10) collected silver and bronze on the vault respectively and the Level A team collectively returned with a record number of medals

The Academy entered nine competitors at the Level 1 competition.

Eight year old Billy Tew completed a great series of routines collecting gold on floor vault and bar however an error in his Parallel Bar routine dropped his overall score. He did however collect a well deserved ‘All Round’ silver. Billy is a fantastic prospect for the future and will be one to watch.

Adam Audley (aged 13 years) collected gold on the floor and bronze in the All Round Championship with fellow team mate Jonathan Potter (|age 26 years) scoring 46.25 points the highest score in the over 21 year category.

Bethany Collina (age 15), Tracey Jones (age 14), Elizabeth Cooper (age 13), Amy Halfpenny (aged 10) and Kirsty Robertson aged (aged 13) competed on all 4 pieces producing some excellent scores, however it was 13 year old Felicity Martin who excelled scoring a massive 36.55 points to collect the trophy for the Highest combined Level 1 score for the whole competition.

In the higher Level 2 competition Louise Green (age 11) won 2 gold’s with fellow team member Claire Poole (aged 20) collecting the same number of silvers.

Omar Haddad (aged 20) produced some good quality routines at level 2 with a very dynamic High Bar routine netting him a silver and this was subsequently bolstered by bronze on the Parallel Bars and Rings. His score of 49.8 points put him in a credible 4^th place all round in his age group.

World Games finalist Alex Hitchings (age 15) also competing at the advanced level 2 for only the second time ever produced some dynamic and remarkable moves which saw him lifting 5 gold’s and a silver and most importantly the Coveted ‘All Round level 2 Trophy.’ His score of 55.00 points was one of the highest scores he has ever achieved and bodes well for the National UK Special Olympic games to be held in Leicester during 2009.

Mark Hughes (aged 16) who also recently returned from the World Special Olympic games, competed at the very advanced Level 3 competition for the first time. His Vault score of 9.80 was a lifetime best and seemed assured of gold until the last round when Jersey’s Martin Myles snatched the lead with a remarkable score of 9.9 points. Marks all round score of 49.75 however was very impressive for a gymnast who has very recently moved up a grade and he full expects to better his point average next time round.

Cheshire Academy and Special Olympic Coach Iain Chalmers was pleased with the team’s success.

 “I would like to pay tribute to both coaches and competitors who traveled to these important games. We have a young team of very talented and dynamic coaches who are able to get the very best from the disability gymnasts.”

“We returned with trophies for the highest level 1 girls and highest level 2 boy’s scores. Our team is a young team and we expect to see it continue to mature and be ready for the National Championships in Leicester during 2009. We are already developing a detailed training programme to enable the gymnasts to peak for that competition and following the success we have seen at Jersey I am very confident we will produce a group of gymnasts who will make the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich proud”

For more information about disability sport locally contact Jane Whetnall at the CheshireAcademy in Crewe, Tel (01270) 255355.