WSG Club Competition on the 13th December

Saturday 13th December 2003 saw over 260 boys and girls, ranging in age from 6 to 16, take part in the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics annual Christmas Club Competition. The gymnasts competed in 29 categories and the day was split into three rounds running from 9.30am until 5.30pm in the afternoon.

Medals and Awards were presented by Sam Bayley, English Junior Champion and Olympic Squad member, Mrs Nina Foulkes from the Bath RUH Forever Friends Appeal and Mr Phil Grout, Trustee of the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics.

Round One

Group 1 Girls (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Alice Burnside, Silver Medal : Adelle Gullis, Bronze Medal: Ashleigh Hayes.

Group 2 Girls (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Jodie Hancock, Silver Medal : Lucy Hanks, Bronze Medal: Holly O’Donaghue.

Group 3 Girls (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Mary Barnes, Silver Medal : Samantha Rhodes, Bronze Medal: Hannah Garrett.

Group 4 Girls (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Laura Sandover, Silver Medal : Daisy Turner, Bronze Medal: Emma Hamilton.

Group 5 Boys (competing on Vault and Floor).
Joint Gold Medal : Tom Hawkins & Euan Faulkner-Lee, Bronze Medal: Jordan Early.

Group 6 Boys (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Peter Brown, Silver Medal : Cameron Falconer,
Joint Bronze Medal: Henry Hawkins & Thomas White.

Group 7 Girls (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Sophie James, Silver Medal : Sophie Inglis,
Joint Bronze Medal: Kirst Winters & Eleanor Hine.

Group 8 Girls (competing on Vault and Floor).
Joint Gold Medal : Jade Wilson & Fiona Winters, Bronze Medal: Tamlin Morgan.

Round Two

Group 9 & 10 Supertots – 6 years (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Rowan Hey, Silver Medal : Amy Neale,
Joint Bronze Medal: Shannon Drew & Armani Pilmer.

Group 11 Girls Squad Group 6 (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Charlotte Cullum, Silver Medal : Kirsty James, Bronze Medal: Megan Gibson.

Group 12 Girls Squad Group 6 senior (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Victoria Lewis, Silver Medal : Hannah Grubb, Bronze Medal: Rhianna Andrew.

Group 13 Boys Recreational 8 years and over (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : David Cann, Silver Medal : Jaden Dearth, Bronze Medal: Stuart Wallace.

Group 14 Girls Recreational 7 years (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Kerry Gibbons, Silver Medal : Samantha Cox,
Joint Bronze Medal: Chloe Wright & Emily Peplow.

Group 15 Girls Recreational 8 & 9 years (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Jamima Duxberry, Joint Silver Medal : Abigail Hayward & Georgina Maker.

Group 16 Girls Recreational 10 years and over (competing on Vault and Floor).
Joint Gold Medal : Michelle Lewis & Sarah Hickman, Bronze Medal : Sarah Trott.

Round Three

Group 17 Girls Elite Grades (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Brittany Wallis, Silver Medal : Melissa Woolley, Bronze Medal : Katie Godber.

Group 18 Girls Senior Squad (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Stephanie Bates, Silver Medal : Connie Blake, Bronze Medal : Holly Angus.

Group 19 Girls Squad Group 4 (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Bethany Gibbons, Silver Medal : Sasha Bennett, Bronze Medal : Sophie Upton.

Group 20 Supertots 5 years (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Livia Gauntlett, Silver Medal : Emily Gray, Bronze Medal : Maria Bush.

Group 21 Teen Gym (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Emily Barnes, Silver Medal : Katie Watts,
Joint Bronze Medal: Jess Rudman & Georgina Schakell-Green.

Group 22 Flying Foxes (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Charlotte Davies, Silver Medal : Imogen Tadman, Bronze Medal : Kaliah Barker.

Group 23 Minis (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Ellie Warneck, Silver Medal : Francesca Hutt, Bronze Medal : Siobhan Tinnion.

Group 24 Junior Elite and Elite (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).

Junior Elite
Gold Medal : Michaela Parry, Silver Medal : Olivia Grout, Bronze Medal : Amy Cowley.

Elite
Gold Medal : Hannah Wickens, Silver Medal : Yasmin Dyer.

Group 25 Compulsory 4 (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Francesca Grout, Joint Silver Medal : Hannah West & Antonia Bates.

Group 26 Compulsory 3 (competing on Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor).
Gold Medal : Lauren Gale, Silver Medal : Pip Higgs, Bronze Medal : India-Rose Mills.

Group 27 Advanced Boys (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Jamie Law, Silver Medal : Tyler Pattenden, Bronze Medal : Jamie Hewlett.

Group 28 Boys Squad (competing on Vault and Floor).
Gold Medal : Jacob Weaver, Silver Medal : Dean Upton, Bronze Medal : Alex Sea-Simmonds.

The following gymnasts received Achievement Awards:

Connie Blake, Kirsty Dalrymple, Josie Evans, Katie Tamin, Stephanie West, Lucy Hanks, Esther Hargreaves, Pete Brown, Carmen Parr, Stuart Wallace, Emma Hill, Emily Barker, Maisie Palmer.

Club Member of the Year was awarded to: Stephanie Bates

Gymnast of the Year was awarded to: Olivia Grout

and

Club Champion for 2003 was awarded to: Hannah Wickens

Congratulations to all the medal winners and all the gymnasts who competed.
The School would like to thank all the many volunteers who gave freely of their time to make the day such an enjoyable success.

Letter to Parents and Gymnasts 5/12/03

Dear Parents, Gymnasts and Trampolinists,

You may be aware the club has been through a difficult period recently. The trustees have had to make some difficult decisions to safeguard the continued future of The Wiltshire School of Gymnastics for all its members.

Regrettably this has resulted in some disruption of classes for which we would like to apologise and thank you all for bearing with us.

We would also like to thank all of our staff for their undiminished support through this time and all their hard work in maintaining and covering classes whilst we re-establish our staffing levels.

One issue that has been highlighted is communication between the club and its members. To address this the Trustees will be holding "surgeries" to enable anyone who has a query, comment or question regarding the club to talk directly to a Trustee. Details will be finalised shortly.

The club also needs volunteers to help with competitions, coffee shop, fundraising etc. so if you feel that you can help in any way please give your name to reception.

The Club Competition is on the 13th December and we will be holding the Christmas Draw so if everybody can sell as many tickets as possible it will help with funds.

Once again thank you for your continuing support and we would like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Trustees of the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics.

Welcome to New Staff

Welcome to the following New Staff:

Corey Drew - Assistant Coach
Janner Panter - BTF (trampoline Coach)
Eddy Van Hoof - Olympic Men's Coach who is assisting us on a temporary basis.

And a belated welcome to (apologies for the delay):

Sam Neale and Jenny Hole on reception

And we are saying goodbye to the following staff and wish them well and good luck:

Levente Molnar Schondorfer
Ali Whitehead
Penny Lander

Wiltshire Grades - November 30th 2003

WSG Results were as follows:

Grade 2 - 11 years and over.
Francesca Irving = 32.775 - Silver Medal,
Rebecca Bull = 31.000 - 5th Place,
Selene Moore = 30.425 - 7th Place,
Claire Cook = 30.375 - 8th Place.

Grade 2 - Category B.
Hannah Grubb = 34.450 - Gold Medal,
Serena Nelson Hall = 33.7505 - Bronze Medal.

Grade 1 - 11 years and over.
Laura Sandover = 33.150 - Gold Medal.

Grade 1 - Category B.
Elise Gauntlett = 36.850 Distinction - Gold Medal,
Kate Silvester = 36.025 Distinction - Silver Medal.

Grade 4 - 8 Years.
Eliza Howell = 34.050 - Gold Medal.

Grade 4 - 10 Years and over.
Rebecca Slingo = 32.225 - Gold Medal,
Antonia Hobden = 31.500 - 4th Place

Category 4 - Category B - 6 years.
Rowan Hey = 34.350 - Gold Medal,
Armarni Palmer = 34.025 - Silver Medal,
Emily Barker = 32.250 - Bronze Medal,
Katherine Jamieson = 32.175 - 4th Place,
Georgia Haridane = 31.050 - 5th Place.

Category 4 - Category B - 7 years.
Eva Parfitt = 35.600 - Gold Medal,
Maisie Palmer = 34.725 - Silver Medal,
Erin Slater = 33.850 - Bronze Medal.

Category 3 - 11 years and over.
Daisy Turner = 32.050 - Bronze Medal.

Pre Level - Category B.
Antonia Bates = 36.800 Distinction - Gold Medal,
Laura Kendrick = 35.050 - Silver Medal,

Pass Mark 30 Distinction 36.00

CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ALL - THEY ALL PASSED

Letter issued at Boy's Parents Meeting 10/11/03

It is with regret that the Trustees of The Wiltshire School of Gymnastics have had to make the decision that it will not be possible for the club to continue the coaching of boys' gymnastics in its present form.

This decision has not been made lightly and is the result of many contributing factors including:

The Club has had an operating loss of £20,000 in the last year. This has been coupled with ongoing problems with the finishing of the construction of the building, obtaining a completion certificate and obtaining final retention payments from the National Lottery.

We also have a new Bank Manager who, whilst supportive, wishes us to take steps to redress the situation.

We have seen a fall in the numbers of recreational gymnasts and our retention percentage of these young gymnasts has dropped. At present we have no waiting lists in recreational classes and it is the "rec" classes that form the backbone of our income.

The "summer" continues to provide an income vacuum which, whilst being addressed, has not been solved,

This last year has seen a number of upheavals in our staffing, not least the loss of our Director of Coaching. There has also been a lot of rumour, speculation and disinformation which has not helped the situation.

We have come to the point where positive action has to be taken to ensure the continuation of The Wiltshire School of Gymnastics as a whole. That action is as follows:

The post of Senior Men's Artistic Coach to be made redundant as from November 11th 2003. Some may say that this is harsh coming before Christmas but there is never a good time for this sort of decision. Levente has been offered a package that will release him immediately to search for another position before the New Year and before his visa expires.

The appointment of a part time coach to revitalise and run the Recreational Gymnastics Programme.

The appointment of a part time Boys Squad Coach.

Boy's Gymnastics will continue to be supported as from November 11th and for the time being cover of a suitable standard is being arranged and will be provided on a part time basis. There may be some disruption to classes but we are endeavouring to minimise this.

A concerted drive to obtain sponsorship and funding from "outside" sources. (Any help and contacts gratefully received).

The clubs fees to increase by 10% (Membership will remain the same).

The employment of contractors (separate to the contractors who built the gym) to repair the pits, complete the porch canopy (as originally designed) and complete the building. These contractors will be paid directly from our National Lottery fund which will then enable a completion certificate to be issued. The retention monies can then be drawn down to finalise the contract.

We realise that these measures will impact on some more than others and would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused but the time has come for positive action. These measures are a start to redressing the situation the club finds itself in but will not work on their own.

All members of the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics now need to work together for the good of the club as a whole. The club survives because of the untiring efforts of many unpaid volunteers and helpers and without a unity of purpose its future is threatened.

We are a Registered Charity providing Gymnastics for all in the South West of England and have some of the lowest fees in the county and provide the highest of standards of coaching. Since moving out of The Christie Miller Sports Centre, in 1995, and applying for National Lottery funding our numbers have grown from 100 gymnasts to over 1000 in just 8 years and the standard of the gymnastics provided has improved by the same proportion. In those 8 years the club has faced many challenges and crises and overcome them all.

The Trustees are determined to do everything in their power to ensure the continuation of the club as a whole and as such trust that they can rely on your support.

The trustees of The Wiltshire School of Gymnastics:
Rod Lewis (Chair), Angie Baxter, Marc Bayley, Phil Grout, Colin Harrison, Julian Lander,
Derek Phillips, Paul Wiltshire.

Wiltshire Floor and Vault - October 26th 2003

WSG Results were as follows:

Category A - 5yrs.
Livvia Gauntlett = Gold Medal,
Sian Dearth = Silver Medal.

Category A - 6yrs.
Armarni Palmer = Gold Medal,
Katherine Jamieson = Bronze Medal,
Georgia Haridane = 4th Place,
Courtney Gale = 5th Place,
Shannon Drew = 6th Place.

Category A - 7yrs.
Charlotte Cullum = Gold Medal,
Megan Gibson = Silver Medal.

Category A - 8yrs.
Eliza Howell = Silver Medal,
Emily Weston = 4th Place.

Category A - 9+10yrs.
Victoria Blanks = Gold Medal,
Julia Salter = Silver Medal,
Rebecca Haney = Joint Bronze Medal,
Holly Risdon = Joint Bronze Medal.

Category B - 7+8yrs.
Francesca Grout = Gold Medal,
Antonia Bates = Silver Medal,
Hannah West = Joint Bronze Medal,
Hannah Grubb = Joint Bronze Medal,
Elise Gauntlett = 5th Place,
Kate Silvester = 6th Place.

Category B - 9yrs.
Laura Kendrick = Gold Medal.

Category B - 10yrs.
Katherine Turner = Gold Medal,
Sasha Bennet = Silver Medal.

Category C - 11yrs.
Georgia Pagett = Joint Silver Medal,
Katy Godber = Joint Silver Medal,
Amy Walrond = Joint 4th Place,
Serrie Anne Price = Joint 4th Place,
Jessica Kelly = 6th Place.

Category C - 12+13yrs.
Louise Spear = Gold Medal,
Rebecca Bull = Silver Medal,
Daisy Turner = Bronze Medal,
Francesca Irving = 4th Place.

Category C - 14+yrs.
Laura Sandover = Silver Medal,
Claire Cook = Bronze Medal.

Category C - 11to13yrs.
Amy Woodruff = Gold Medal,
Bethany Gibbons = Silver Medal,
Jessica David = Bronze Medal,
Connie Blake = 4th Place.

Category D - 14+yrs.
Kirsty Dalrymple = Silver Medal,
Holly Angus = Joint 4th Place,
Laura Holmes = Joint 4th Place.

Alpha Factor Finals October 11th & 12th 2003

The Wiltshire School of Gymnastics hosted the finals of the Alpha Factor Championships
on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of October with over 250 gymnasts from around the country attending. South Durham took the Alpha Factor Team Cup and
Harrow won the Aerials Team Cup.

Congratulations to:
Samantha Bayley - Gold in the FIG under 15
Jessa Powell - Gold in the Level 2 under 11
Olivia Grout - Silver in the Level 4 Under 11
Amy Woodruff - Silver in the Level 4 over 11
For the individual results click here (thanks to John Pirrie).

The English Championships were held at The Wiltshire School of Gymnastics on the 7th and 8th of June. Saturday saw the Men's competition with 13 of the counties top Junior and Senior men.
The Women's competition was on the Sunday with 65 gymnasts from clubs across the country competing for the Junior and Senior title.

In the Women's Junior competition Sam Bayley took the Gold and the title of Junior English Champion along with Gold medals for Vault, Bars and Floor.
Hannah Wickens came in at 20th.

In the Men's Senior competition Alistair Whitehead was placed in 4th position and won Silver for Vault and P-Bars with a Bronze for High Bar.

Congratulations and Well Done form all at WSG.

To view John Pirrie's report on the Women's Competition click here

Compulsory 4&3 National Finals 10th-11th June 2003 in Birmingham

WSG gymnasts' results for the Compulsory 4+3 National finals were as follows:

Compulsory 4:

Lauren Gale : 8th

India Rose-Mills : 11th (tied for the top floor score)

Pip Higgs : 18th

Compulsory 3

Leanna Clarke : 6th

The South West Team was placed Second

Well done to you all.

National Schools Floor and Vault Championships Sat 10th May 2003 in Stoke on Trent

WSG gymnasts' made up the entire team for Christchurch Primary School, Under 11 years at the National Schools Floor and Vault competition and were placed Second

The team was as follows:

Olivia Grout (Top score for vault)
Becky New
Francesca Grout
Kathryn Turner
Leah Moodie
Amy Walrond

Well done to you all.

WSG Boys take top honours at the South West NDP Championship

WSG boys competed on Sunday 30th March at the South West NDP Championships in Poole for selection into the South West teams. This South West Squad will now travel to Newcastle for the National Finals later this year.

The Boys competing were Ewan Reed in the Primary 3 group, Edward Morrell in the Under 14 and Joel Baxter also in the Under 14 group.

Ewan has this year made the move from the NDP Club level to the NDP Regional level. This is a large step to the advanced sets of the Elite NDP Regional Teams. Ewan was hoping to rise up the rankings this year - but excelled - and was placed a very creditable 5th and a place in the squad.

Edward and Joel competed at the very highest level as well with the National Champion within their group! This did not deter them with Edward taking the Bronze medal and Joel the Silver medal.

This has been a difficult time for boys in the NDP Regional groups with 3 NDP's within 18 months and 19 changes to the sets. Many gymnasts have not managed to cope with all the changes but the WSG boys have persevered and been rewarded with great success.

Well done boys and all success as you travel with the South West Elite Squad to the NDP National Finals in June.

WSG wins BGA Best South West Gymnastics Club

The Wiltshire school of Gymnastics has won the BGA award for Best South West Gymnastics Club. Trustee Mark Bayley travelled to Lilleshall on Saturday 29th March to accept the award.