DEERNESS Gymnastics Academy is hoping to get 2015 off to a flying start as its young tumblers enter the Regional NDP (National Development Program) Championships this weekend.
The regional championships are being held in Hartlepool tomorrow when 19 tumblers from Deerness will compete against other tumblers from the region to compete to represent the region at national level.
The 19 Deerness Gymnastics Academy gymnasts are: Tia Barratt, Mya Malthouse, Ava Bayles, Tom Reid, Olivia Bell, Samantha Tull, Sophie Smith, Beth Watson, Abigail Raine, Daniel Wilkinson, Tia Simpson, Lorna McAllister, Quinn Young, Solomon Cornwell, Lewis Westwood, Megan Young, Eve Coates, Cleo Watson and Amy Jeff.
In total 168 gymnasts from clubs right across the North-East will thrill and entertain with their skills as they contend for medals in the different categories and the opportunity to proceed to the National NDP semi-finals.
The top two in each category will make it through to the semi-finals in Peterborough in May and Sheffield in June, hoping to then qualify for the national finals.
At the same event last year, ten tumblers from Deerness Gymnastics Academy won gold medals and three will be hoping to repeat their success of last year when Amy Jeff, Cleo Watson and Solomon Cornwell reached the national finals along with 13 other tumblers from Deerness.
Cornwell went on to win the national gold medal with Deerness taking five gold and four silver medals at the national finals in total.
Deerness Gymnastics Academy in Ushaw Moor is a high-performance centre for British Gymnastics. It has a strong history in acrobatic gymnastics and is now developing the gymnastic discipline of tumbling at the club with coach Glen Wharton.
“Last year the club won gold medals at both the European and World championships and was best year yet for tumbling at Deerness Gymnastics Academy,” Wharton said.
“It is a growing sport both nationally and here at Deerness. We have recently added new tumbling sessions to meet demand, as we continue to develop the club for both the local community as well as national and international gymnastics.
“The competitions for 2015 are now underway and we wish all of our tumblers the best of luck!”
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