Seven local gymnasts were selected to represent the south west team in the recent national grade finals, which was held in Cooks Moor Leisure Centre in Birmingham in May. Coralie Feltham a pupil at Backwell secondary school, participated in her second national final representing the south west team in Club Grade 1, Coralie put in a clean all around performance.

Eleven year old Maisie Dodds, a pupil at Flax Bourton Primary school, and nine year old Jessica Pointon a pupil at Portishead primary, both participated in their first grade national finals. They were part of the south west grade 4 team. To make the south west team Maisie and Jessica trialed earlier this year, with Maisie winning the regional grade, and Jessica placing fourth.

In their first national finals, Maisie dazzled the floor judges, placing her fifth on floor, and with fellow team mate Jessica Pointon, they narrowly missed out on the team medals.

Ten year Charlotte Bennett, a pupil at St. Peters Primary school in Portishead took home two medals. Charlotte competed in club grade 3 and put in a stylish performance, achieved the second highest score on bars and the fourth on beam. These scores gave Charlotte a bronze medal narrowly missing silver by 0.15 in the all around competition, and helped the team to a silver medal.

Lucy Brett who is only nine competed in her first national finals. To be selected into the team for compulsory level 3. In the south west grade trial, Lucy had the highest score on vault and the second highest on floor, securing her place in the team. Lucy is a pupil at Mary Elton Primary school in Clevedon.

Ten year Ruby Harrold, a pupil at Churchill Primary school was selected to represent the South West team in the recent national Grade finals, held at in Cooks Moor Leisure Centre in Birmingham earlier this month. This was Ruby’s second national final.

On the day, Ruby had the second highest score on bars, and the fourth on floor. Ruby helped the team to silver place, and individually Ruby finished in fourth place narrowly missing third by 0.05 and second by 0.2.

Ten year old Sophie Jameson a pupil at Yatton primary school, competed in her third national final at Cooks Moor Leisure Centre in Birmingham.

In 2006, Sophie who was placed sixth in the combined British Level 4 competitions, and this year she was out to prove she was better than sixth. A member of the south west team Sophie once again dazzled compulsory three judges with her performance earning the third highest score on floor and vault, and executed a clean beam routine giving her fourth highest score. When all the scores were combined, Sophie took the silver medal in the all around competition.