The last couple of months have been a busy time for Sugarloaf Gymnastics.
At the beginning of March we moved to our full time premises in Network Enterprise Park Kilcoole, allowing us to provide more classes to the aspiring gymnasts of all ages of Co. Wicklow, 5 days a week. A quick 48 hours, with dedication from staff and volunteers, saw the club move all of our equipment from Shoreline Leisure Centre in Greystones and convert an unused modern warehouse into a fully equipped gymnastics training centre. Since settling into our new home, membership numbers have increased and it has been all go with classes, training camps and competitions.
February saw 7 young gymnasts make their competition debut. Rosie Davis, Maya Farrell, Caoimhe Davis, Faye Flynn, Ailbhe Murray, Samarah Rahman and Holly Shields took part in their first competition, the Regional and National Level 1 All Around and Team event at DCU in Dublin. All gymnasts, aged either 6 or 7, competed so well in their first competition which had a high number of participants. Maya, aged 7, took home a Regional in the All Around and the the young team earned a Regional silver team medal.
On March 28th and 29th Emily Murphy, Lucy McCann, Ruby Parker, Erin Dunne, Isla Marsh, Dora Tara Boda, Maya Farrell and Rosie Davis competed in the Level 2-5 Regional and National All Around competition at the University of Limerick (UL). It was the first time for many competing at this new venue with loads of new moves debuted for the first time in competition. Excellent performances were seen from all gymnasts. Lucy, aged 9, won a Regional bronze medal in Level 3 U10, while Isla, aged 8 won Regional gold and National bronze medals in Level 3 U9. In Level 3 U8 Dora Tara Boda won Regional bronze.
The third competition of the season kicked off last weekend as Alice Fitzgerald, Deirbhle Ivory, Alanna Conroy, Jessica Knatchbull, Emma Wash and Nuanna Crowe De Sousa competed at the Level 6-9 Regional and National All Around competition at UL. The morning session saw Nuanna, Jessica and Emma competed with some strong scores on Beam and Vault. Jessica and Emma took home silver and bronze Regional medals respectively in Level 7 U13. Alanna, Alice and Deirbhle competed in Level 9 O13. The 3 strong competitors secured top scores of the day among their peers on Vault, Floor and Bars and showed great elegance and maturity in their gymnastics. Alice took an early lead, taking home the Regional gold medal while Alanna took silver, with Deirbhle in 4th, unfortunately beaten to third place by only a small margin. Alice and Alanna impressed even more, taking home National silver and bronze medals respectively.
Overall, it has been an impressive medal haul for the club who’s Squad gymnasts train between 7 and 16 hours a week, congratulations to all of the gymnasts who competed.
Gymnasts compete in Ireland in Levels 1-9 (1 being the starting off point climbing to Level 9 as one of the most difficult levels). May 16th and 17th will see Alice and Alanna, along with Niamh Hutchinson compete at the FIG All Around competition, which is the top level in the country. We wish them good luck in their final weeks of preparation ahead of the competition.
Image via Gymnastics Ireland.