Gisborne 10 make a big statement at Icon champs

The Gisborne Trampoline Club team members who returned from the Icon club champs in Auckland with 16 medals were, back (from left): Lucy Spence, Daphne Morris, Haley Rolls, Mia Goldsmith, Lily Arnold, Sophie Hawkes and Rongokako Nepe-Apatu. Front: Porsha Warren-Hillman and Alfie Connon. Picture by Liam Clayton

 by Marilyn Callahan

Gisborne Trampoline Club athletes brought back six gold medals, nine silver and one bronze from the Icon club champs in Auckland.

It was the club members’ first competition of the year, and 10 of them took part.

Competing in the junior international class, Lily Arnold took silver in the trampoline and combined with the Icon club’s Luci Unkovich to win the synchro title.

In the subjunior international class, Haley Rolls took silver in the double mini tramp.

Lily and Haley gained qualification for the New Zealand nationals to be held in Palmerston North from October 7 to 13. They both qualified in trampoline and double mini tramp.

Lily is now waiting to see if she has qualified to represent New Zealand at the Australian national champs being held on the Gold Coast next month.

The Gisborne club’s 10-and-under competitors made a big statement – all four competitors qualified for the New Zealand nationals. The 10-and-under team of Daphne Morris, Alfie Connon, Lucy Spence and Rongokako Nepe-Apatu won medals on trampoline and double mini tramp (DMT).

On trampoline, Rongokako took the 10-and-under male title with an outstanding routine, while Alfie and Lucy both won silver.

On DMT in the same age group, Daphne achieved great marks to win the 10-and-under female title, while Alfie won the male title. Lucy and Rongokako took the silver medals.

In a strong 11-12 age group, Porsha Warren-Hillman took the trampoline and DMT titles. Porsha’s routines have a high degree of difficulty for her age. In her 10-bounce trampoline routine, she performed three different double-somersaults and three different twisting somersaults. Her performance easily won her qualification for the nationals, with a trampoline score of 124.25.

Also in the 11-12 age group, Sophie Hawkes claimed the bronze medal, which earned her qualification for the nationals.

Mia Goldsmith performed with confidence in the 13-14 age group to earn the silver medal. She, too, will join the Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay team competing at the nationals.

The next competition for Gisborne club members will be the Counties Manukau power tumbling event in Auckland on Saturday. Six Gisborne tumblers will be aiming for nationals qualification.