Kaitaia club claims gold, silver and bronze

PERFORMANCE ORIENTATED: Jacinta Van der Linden and Shelby Callaghan (Kaitaia Gymnastics Club) won gold and bronze medals respectively at the Northland champs in Whangarei earlier this month.

A quartet of Kaitaia's elite gymnasts bought back a gold, a silver and three bronze medals respectively after competing at the annual Northland Championships in Whangarei earlier this month.

Despite tough competition against competitors from Kerikeri, Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics (WAGS), Mahurangi, Bay of Islands and Fantastic Gymnastics clubs, the Kaitaia gymnasts were able to achieve some excellent results.

The outstanding performance came from Jacinta Van der Linden who took gold in the girls' Step 5 division 2 grade, as well as winning the trophy for the highest points in Step 5. Elsewhere, Jacinta's twin brother Andrew took the silver medal in the boys' Level 5 competition, whilst the bronze medals were claimed by Shelby Callaghan in the girls' Step 5 Division 2, Morgan Dolfing in boys 'Level 5, and Lesley Blud in girls' Step 2 div 2.

Other highlights saw Shelby and Jacinta's mixed club team win gold, Noah Sunkel's mixed club team won gold, and Waikotahi Pitman-Going's mixed club team pick up silver. The list of results recorded by the athletes representing the Kaitaia Gymnastic Club at the Northland championships on August 8 were as follows.

GIRLS. Step 5 Division 2: Jacinta van der Linden floor, bar and beam 1 (e.g. 1st in both disciplines), vault 2, overall 1, gold medal; Shelby Callaghan vault, bar, beam and floor 3, 3rd overall, bronze medal. Step 3 Div 2: Nina Heron vault 3; Step 3 Div 1: Jessica McCarthny vault 1, bar and beam 4, floor 7, overall 5.

Step 2 Div 2: Bree McGlashon vault 3 (gold ribbon performance). Step 2 Div 1: Lesley Blud bar 2, beam 3, vault and floor 7, overall 3, bronze medal; Aria Reed vault 2, bar 5=, beam 7, floor 9, overall 8=; Tiawaai Witana vault 3=, bar 5=, beam 6, overall 8.

Step 1, Div 2: Raukura McNab vault 4= (gold ribbon performance), bar 7; Roimata Clark-Fairclough floor 11; Brooke Gamble vault and beam 11=; Phoenix Cassidy vault 11; Laurel Wilson beam 4; with a congratulations to Paige Hall. Step 1 Div 1: Anika Riddle bar 4, beam, vault and floor 5, overall 5.

BOYS. Level 5: Andrew van der Linden rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar 1, floor and pommel 2, overall 2 silver medal; Morgan Dolfing pommel, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar 2, floor 4, overall 3, bronze medal. Level 3: Waikotahi Pitman-Going high bar 5, floor, pommel, rings, vault and parallel bars 6, overall 6. Level 1: Noah Sunkel vault and parallel bars 2, pommel 5, floor and high bar 6, rings 7, overall 4.

The Kaitaia gymnasts thanked all the coaches and judges who put in the time to make this such a great competition, and acknowledged the Whangarei Academy of Gymnastics in Kamo for hosting the championships. There is one more competition this term on September 12.