Northland gym team brings back swag of medals from national champs

The Northland Gymnastics and trampolining team from WAGs, Fantastic Gymnastics and Active Attitude clubs.

Northland gymnasts came away from the New Zealand Gymnastics National Championships with a swag of medals and high placings.

The championships were held in Tauranga earlier this year and Northland athletes won four gold medals, a bronze and had several other good results.

The young gymnasts were from three Northland clubs - Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics (Wags), Fantastic Gymnastics and Active Attitude.

Wags manager Vicki Macdonald said it was a tremendous achievement from the young athletes, especially considering they were competing against regions and clubs with far more resources than Northland.

Niko Robertson (WAGs) practices on the trampoline.

Nathaniel Aoina, Ella Howie and Pippa Benton were first in their tumbling categories while Michelle Crawford won the Step 9 vault.

''It can be very hard for us. Unlike some of the others we don't have the luxury of full time coaches, so they did very well. We've had more medals from a national champs before, but not in as many gym codes,'' Macdonald said.

Kendra Leathem (Active Attitude) spots her landing on the trampoline.

''The gymnasts were buzzing at their success, which is very well deserved after all the hard work they have put in. Gymnastics is a hard sport and the aim now is for them to aim to represent New Zealand.''

This was the first time Northland had tumblers compete and the team did extremely well with some gold-winning performances.

Renee Pilon (Fantastic Gymnastics) on beam.

Northland's results:
Tumbling:
11-12 years boys - Nathaniel Aoina, 1st Overall; under 10 years girls - Ella Howie, 1st Overall, 17+ Girls - Pippa Benton; 1st Overall; 13-14 years boys - Ryan Townsend, 4th Overall; 11-12 years girls - Renee Pilon: 5th Overall.
Mens Artistic Gymnastics:
Level 4 - Liam Townsend 3rd pommel; Hayden Smith, 4th vault.
Level 6 - Ryan Townsend, 8th vault.
Womens Artistic Gymnastics:
Step 9 - Michelle Crawford, 1st vault
Step 8 - Sophia Cosson, qualified for finals and placed 9th on floor and 10th on vault.
Double Mini Tramp:
11-12 year boys - Ben Hori-Elliot, 7th
Trampoline:
17+ - Tegan Verevis, 8th overall; Steph Crocker, 8th.