Registered charity No. 1076301

WELCOME TO EVERYONE

Welcome to all our new members.  Our classes are full and we hope you are enjoying your gymnastics.  Our competitive gymnasts have been busy training over the summer period, and the holiday has given us the opportunity to conduct some extra sessions, and our best gymnasts went on a very successful training week to Portsmouth.

There were 21 gymnasts and 8 coaches, so we were a large group to accommodate, Debbie and Keith Richardson from the Dynamo Club were the perfect hosts and we really enjoyed working in their beautiful gym alongside their gymnasts.  It was quite a challenge to find a restaurant to cater for a party of 29 every night, but we rose to the challenge, finishing the last night with a party featuring Wrekins’ got talent.  Nicole Watson proving that not only is she a great gymnast, but also a great entertainer.  Special thanks must go to all of the coaches: Christine Still, Mike Weinstock, Derek Van der Ploeg, Becky Turner, Jemma Parry, Brett Ince and our super judge Sam Paddock for being on duty 24 hours a day and making it such a special trip.

COMPETITION SUCCESS

The first competition of the season was the English Championship, which proved how good our preparation had been with Emily Goring winning the gold medal and becoming English Senior Champion, she also won the gold medal on Beam!

Larissa Meredith and Natalie Dyas competed in the Junior section and Charlotte Rumsey in the Espoire.  On the same weekend our teams competed in the West Midlands Individual Apparatus Team competition winning medals at each level, with the following results:

FIG Team – Gold: Emily Goring, Charlotte Rumsey, Georgina Hockenhull, Erin Arrowsmith                

Level 2 - Silver: Charlotte Jordan, Elle Lavelle, Mazie Taylor, Georgina Perkins                                     

Level 3 - Silver: Ellen Guest, Eshe Bernard, Rebecca Williamson, Emily Dyer                                          

Level 4, Under 10 - Gold: Caitlin Tsang, Maddie Kelly, Bethany Lavelle, Nicole Averley                       

Level 4, Over 10  -  Silver -  Olivia Arrowsmith, Hannah Winspear, Lilly Mae Atkinson, Natasha Tsang

Level 5 – Bronze: Ellie Vernon, Harriet Price, Thea Perkins-Green, Tamzin Clifford

This was a good practice for the West Midlands Individual Championship in Birmingham where we had an outstanding weekend.  A total of 10 medals - 7 of them gold, which was a fantastic achievement by all the gymnasts and coaches.  The results were as follows:

FIG Level: Senior,   1^st Emily Goring,  Junior,  1^st Natalie Dyas,  2^nd Erin Arrowsmith  5^th Larissa Meredith

Espoire  1^st Georgina Hockenhull,   7^th Ellie Postance

Level 2: Senior,   6^th Mazie Taylor,  11 year old Championship  4^th Charlotte Jordan

Level 3: Senior  2^nd Kelly Brasenall,   8^th Millie Barker,    Junior  1^st  Elle Lavelle,  2^nd Emily Dyer,   10^th Georgina Bebb,  10 year old Championship  5^th  Eshe Bernard

Level 4: Senior 1^st  Natasha Tsang,    3^rd Olivia Arrowsmith,   11^th  Darcy McGinn

Junior - 1^st Lydia Morris,    6^th Lilly Mae Atkinson,   13^th Hannah Winspear.                                                                          

9 year old Championship:   1^st Caitlin Tsang,    3^rd  Bethany Lavelle,    4^th Nicole Averley,   16^th Sophie Grew,   21^st  Christie Trottman.

EVENTS COMING SOON

There is a Badge Day on Sunday 29^th November from 11.00 am – 1.00 pm.  This is the opportunity for all of our younger members and non competitive gymnasts to take their British Gymnastics Badges; it is linked to the chance to buy new Kit, have a tea or coffee and watch a short Christmas Display by our competitive gymnasts.

Volunteers to help on the day would be very welcome, please contact Hazel Arrowsmith or any of the committee members if you are able to spare some time.  Please put the date in your diary, it’s a fantastic day for all club members and family.

We have a children’s Christmas Party at the gym on Saturday 19^th December, Josie Vaughan, head of our recreation programme will be organising it along with the fundraising committee, further details will be sent out nearer the time.

The fundraising committee organised a very enjoyable family fun night in the pits at Lilleshall earlier in the year.  It was very well attended and a good time was had by all.  £336 was raised on the night – if anyone did manage to collect any additional sponsor money please forward it to fundraising via their coach.

NEW KIT

We are delighted to be able to announce that we have chosen NEW KIT for 2010.  New leotards for ALL gymnasts will be available to order soon, just in time for that extra Christmas present.  This is what will be available:

NEW training leotards for recreation, improver and elite squad gymnasts

NEW competition leotards for all competitive squad gymnasts

NEW T-Shirts for competitions and also hand guards & chalk bags

Existing pink T-Shirts and hoodies for training and white fleece jackets for competitions are still going to be used and can still be purchased

The new competition leotards will be needed for Grades and Compulsories next March.  Current leotards will be needed for all competitions in 2009.  The final competitions this year:

West Midlands Level 5   -  24^th October,   Bill Slater Team Championship   -  25^th October -  Newcastle Upon Tyne ,              Shropshire County Championships, Level 4, 3, 2 & FIG  -  1^st November  - Lilleshall,   British Age Group Final  -  7^th & 8^th November  -  Guildford,  West Midlands Team Championship  -  Level 5, 4, 3, 2 & FIG -  15^th November    and finally               British Challenge Cup  -  FIG  - 22^nd November  -  Rushmoor

Coaches of all classes wish to point out that it is important to be on time for training, the warm up at the start of the session is very important and it is difficult for gymnasts at all levels to join a class part way through.  I would also ask that spectators try not to distract children in the gym, it is important they listen to the coach and pay attention to what is happening in the gym, although the balcony gives a chance to watch please use that facility sensibly and with respect for the coaches in the gym.

NEW CHEER-LEADING CLASSES

We are delighted to be able to announce that we are starting a Cheerleading section of the club; this is for existing members or new members and will start the first week in November on Tuesday evening 6.30 at Wrekin College.  Please contact Chris Paddock 01694 722519 to register for the class, there will be a special introductory course available.  This is the newest section of British Gymnastics and is proving extremely popular.

We are also expanding the boys section under the leadership of Lee Newcombe, classes are at Wrekin College on Wednesday evenings and at Lilleshall on Tuesday evenings, contact Chris Paddock for more details.

The World Gymnastic Championship is being held in London at the 02 Arena, this is where it will be for the Olympics in 2012, from the 13^th – 19^th October, it will be on BBC from Thursday 15^th (on the red button).  Listen out for our Head Coach Christine Still who will be commentating.  Good Luck to Emily Goring who had been selected to represent England in Germany in October and also selected to be part of the England team at the Rushmoor Rose bowl Tournament.

Well Done to you all – Keep up the hard work.