Busy year brings its rewards

MEDAL WINNERS: Gisborne Trampoline Club members with their medals from the Icon Trampoline Championships in Auckland. They are (from left): Rongokako Nepe-Apatu, Connor Brooks, Lucy Spence, Lily Arnold, Alfie Connon, Tyler Sheldrake and Daphne Morris. Picture by Liam Clayton

by Marilyn Callahan
AN 11-strong Gisborne Trampoline Club team brought back 12 medals from the Icon Trampoline Championships in Auckland last weekend.
The team bagged nine gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the event, which was held at the McCown Sports Centre in Mangere.
It has been a busy year for the club, with multiple competitions within a short time frame.
Competitors have been aiming to qualify at these competitions for the New Zealand and Australian nationals and the world championships — not easy with all the travel required. The New Zealand nationals will be held in July, which means qualification has to be gained within four months.
Next year the New Zealand nationals will be held later in the year, which will be a relief for the competitors and parents, as the team will be able to build up to that event in stages.
The busy schedule did not seem to worry Lily Arnold, though. She demonstrated her consistency by taking the International title in FIG 15/16-year age group in trampoline and in doing so broke her qualifying mark for the second time.
She also won gold on the double mini tramp (DMT) but needs more degree of difficulty (DD) to reach the qualifying mark in this discipline.
The other team members all put in strong performances. Alfie Connon made his mark by taking the titles in the 8-and-under trampoline and DMT. This was his first competition and he showed he is one to watch.
In the same age group, Lucy Spence matched Alfie’s performance, winning gold in both the trampoline and DMT.  Lucy showed the importance of concentration on the trampoline and in performing four double mini tramp passes with total focus.
Daphne Morris took 9/10yr gold in both trampoline and DMT. This was a good result and if she increases her marks at the next competition she can still qualify for the nationals.
The skills these young competitors learn are relatable to all aspects of life. It is not just about the result on the day. More important is the path they take to get there, in training and in the confidence gained in dealing with performance anxiety.
Involvement in sport is so much more than the sport itself as it encompasses many character-building aspects, such as having a positive attitude, being part of a team and supporting other athletes, setting goals and dealing with failure and success.
Tyler Sheldrake displayed standout, well-centred trampoline routines which earned him the 9/10yr gold medal in trampoline — a great achievement.
Tyler also did well to take the bronze medal on DMT. He will be working on increasing his DD in this discipline and has the potential to develop into a strong trampolinist. 
Rongokako Nepe-Apatu put in a great effort competing at his first competition. He took the silver medal in the 9/10yr DMT and was fourth on trampoline. 
Connor Brooks took bronze in the 11/12yr boys’ trampoline. This is a keenly contested age group. Strong attention to form will bring Connor even more improvement.
Special thanks go to wonderful young coaches Nina Buscke and James van Aswegen, who gave their time to help head coach Doug Callahan with managing the children.
Callahan, on sticks with worsening mobility caused by his disintegrating hip, was deeply appreciative of how these two youngsters knew just what to do to help out.
Without needing to be asked, they used their initiative and were right on the mark when help was needed.
Team members are in Rotorua this weekend, competing in a tumbling competition.