Athletes took chance to shine at Trampoline and Tumbling Champs

Host athletes: Gisborne Trampoline Club members shone in the Central Champs held in Gisborne last month. With their medals are, back (from left): Katy Lyons, Thomas Bull, Connor Brooks, Capria Tamatea, Sophie Chambers, Ngature Tuhura, Lily Arnold, Haley Rolls, Sophie Hawkins, Rioss Smith and Tyler Sheldrake. Front: Alfie Connon, Ava-Raey Haley, Addison Pickering, Daphne Morris, Jayce Atkins, Hamiora Pardoe, Sophie Rolls, Fred Tietjen, Lucy Spence, Porsha Warren-Hillman, Rongokako Nepe-Apatua and Carlos Petersen. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

 by Marilyn Callahan

Athletes from all over the North Island made Gisborne their destination for the Central Island Trampoline and Tumbling Champs.

The Gisborne Trampoline Club hosted the event at the Electrinet Sports Centre.

The club’s team of 28 athletes won 22 gold medals, 12 silver and 12 bronze.

Teams came from Auckland clubs that included the Argos Gym Club, Tri Star, Counties Manukau, Franklin, North Harbour and Icon. Athletes also came from Mid Island Gym Sports in Rotorua, Ricochet Club in Hawke’s Bay and the Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics. One athlete came from the ICE club in Rangiora, just out of Christchurch.

The largest teams were from Gisborne, North Harbour and Mid Island Gym Sports.

It was a good opportunity for the Gisborne club to put on a great competition, and the weather played ball.

Those who travel from around the country say they always enjoy coming to Gisborne.

With the number of Gisborne medal winners so high, just a few who stood out will be mentioned.

Porsha Warren-Hillman put on an excellent display on the tumbling floor in the nine-and-10-year age group. She had a final score of 60.40 — 6.60 points ahead of the second-placed competitor.

Capria Tamatea showed consistency in her performance in the 15-17yr National grade tumbling, and took the gold with 59.30 points. Sophie Chambers was close behind, with 57.90 total points.

Hayley Rolls returned a great score competing in FIG 11/12yrs on the tumbling floor.

The mark on her individual pass, 36.90, was just 0.10 short of the qualifying mark of 37.00 needed for the world champs. She has already qualified for the world champs on double mini trampoline.

Lily Arnold, competing in FIG 15/16yr division, qualified once again for the world champs with a final score of 79.90.

Most of the new competitors took out medals in all divisions — trampoline, double mini tramp, synchronised trampoline and tumbling.

Lucy Spence shone in her eight-and-under age group in both trampoline and double mini, taking gold in both, with a total score of 77.00 in trampoline. She made the qualifying mark for the age group ahead of her.

She is too young to qualify for the nationals this year but will be of age in 2024.

So far, 12 trampolinists from the club have qualified for the New Zealand nationals to be held in Tauranga in July. Aspiring nationals competitors have one more Auckland competition to hit the required marks.