Mid Island Gym Sport (MIGS) gymnasts, representing Bay of Plenty for the first time, have achieved outstanding results.
The club, which had previously represented Waikato at national events, got its first opportunity in the Bay colours at the New Zealand Gymnastics Championships during the school holidays.
The championships were shared between regions - Auckland hosted rhythmic and aerobics, Nelson hosted artistic and Christchurch played home to trampoline. Overall 16 MIGS gymnasts competed.
In the men's artistic gymnastics, Michael Stanley competed in the Level 8 competition and is now the New Zealand champion after taking gold in high bar and pommel and bronze on the floor and rings. He was also a member of the New Zealand transtasman team and placed with a silver for team and bronze on floor, high bar and pommel. Stanley also received the New Zealand MAG Senior Levels Gymnast of the Year trophy.
Shayne Buckeridge-Morrison competed in the Level 7 competition and placed second all around with a gold on high bar, silver on parallel bars and bronze on rings and pommel. Next month Stanley and Buckeridge-Morrison travel to Texas to represent New Zealand at the Valeri Liukin Invitational, one of the largest and longest-running international competitions in the USA.