Date: Saturday 13th June 2015 at Sheffield
Entries close: TBC
Entry ages: 4 years +
The second national gala of 2015 took place at the Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Cangaroos fielded two entries in grade 7 this time with Zach in the 13-14 years category and Ali in the over 17s.
It was a chaotic start to the day as Tony, Zach and Antony arrived to find the times had changed and that Ali would be on at the same time as Zach. Fortunately Ali was just able to make it for the march on (thanks greatly to Tammy) for what proved to be an incredibly tough competition for both gymnasts.
Despite the strains of flexibility training the previous evening at Sawston and the 2.5 hour drive, both gymnasts warmed up strongly on their panels. Zach would bounce first and performed a compete set routine just below the qualification score for national finals but still showing strong progress. Tony galloped across like a leaping gazelle through the African plains (clearly the flexibility training is paying off) to the other side of the hall for Ali's first routine. He scored slightly higher achieving the needed qualifying score for the first routine.
It was the second routine that would truly test both gymnasts. Zach again went first and finished strongly securing a 6th position that he can now aim to build on for next season. Month after month the club has witnessed him improve and we have high hopes for him in the future.
All eyes now turned to Ali who still had a shot at nationals. His routine would be the second hardest competed in club history with a difficulty score of 9.1. Despite finishing it for the first time in competition he did not achieve the form score for national finals but can still walk away with a platform to build on for 2016 having finished 7th.
Overall though both gymnasts performed well given the new rule set and they will lead the way for more of the squad to join them next season. Our thanks go to Tony for giving up his Saturday to coach them through. Also to Anthony and Tammy who cheered them on. We will be back at nationals 2016 - even if all the guys have to learn the splits to do so (new rules for next year)!