Date: Saturday 1st June 2013 - Sunday 2nd June 2013 at Temple Park, South Shields
Entries close: TBC
Entry ages: 4 years +
"So, this is what it has come to…"
The final national gala of the season saw the Cangaroos journey up to South Shields for the last chance to qualify to nationals or to gain promotion. This time we had Ali, Taranne and Trinity competing at National C in trampoline and Luis competing in FIG B for DMT.
Saturday started with an early morning training session at Sawston where competitors gained some last minute practice before setting off in convoy off to their hotel up north. After a four hour car ride where the team were constantly subjected to Luis’s stories and where Lizz insisted we all eat at little chef, we arrived at possibly the greatest Gala hotel room ever. Tony, Luis and Ali shared a five bed room overlooking the sea whilst Taranne and Liz settled into their shed upstairs.
After a quick refresh we ventured down the beach where almost instant disaster hit as our DMT specialist Luis fatally broke a nail whilst playing by the water. After the severity of the situation had passed we met up Stuart, Franky, Trinity and Sydney for some traditional seaside fish and chips. After some food and drink we made our way back to the rooms to get some sleep for Sunday and the competition ahead.
Sunday started unbelievably as Taranne was out of her room on time! Unfortunately the resulting breakfast was not. Despite the Brigadier’s instructions to the service team it took us ages to get food (a court martial clearly in order). As we arrived at the hall Luis ‘Half-Nail’ Pires warmed up for DMT. This was Luis’s first gala in DMT since last season and despite promising looking warmups he sadly clipped the mat during the first mount and received a caution.
As the military operation of doing Taranne’s hair was performed Trinity started to get herself ready. Stuart, active like a hungry wolf could be seen stalking around the competition area clearly overjoyed about the four hour journey home. Under the watchful eye of Tony Trinity performed two good routines and finished 10th just missing national finals qualification.
After a short break Ali was up next for his last chance of reaching FIG B. His set routine did not start well as his trademark crash dive resembled something more of an English tourist belly-flop. He recovered well and came through his voluntary in 3rd place and qualifying for promotion to FIG B. In the final he slipped to 4th but the smile could not be removed from his face as his year long objective was finally achieved.
Finally, Taranne’s hair was finished and we all turned our attention to panel 2 (where Jane Macrae was also judging). After a long analysis of her set routine the judges agreed that her straight barani was tucked and she received a one mark penalty. After a much better voluntary she finished in 26th but was unable to avoid the caution.
As we made our way home we reflected on the season as a whole and we can safely agree it has truly been incredible but not over yet. All that remained on the car journey home was to watch Ali thrash Taranne at the 'Yellow Car' game.
We are now set with all four National Finalists in 2013 also having qualified for FIG B. That is Ali, Luis, Myffy and Matt. We now look forward to the Regional Championships on 23rd June in Wisbech and the National Finals in July.