CLUB NEWS
5th July 2010:BUDDING YOUNG GYMNASTS BRING HOME GOLD FOR MONARCHS
Sunday 4th July 2010 saw some of the Monarchs Acro Gymnastics Club compete in the South West Championships in Sherbourne. Leoni Warburton, Natalie Hughes and Emily -Kay Smith performed a flawless routine to claim the gold medal in the Prep B Novice Trio catagory along with Jacob Baker and Joseph Reed Prep B Mens Pair, also claiming the gold medal after displaying a confident routine to be proud of.Our youngest gymnast Bailey Morgan aged 6 and Charlie Dymond performed a lovely clean routine and claimed the silver medal, this was their first competition together entering the Prep B Mixed Pair category. Amber Morgan watched with tears of joy " They both did so well and did everything just right, I'm a very proud Mum".
In the Grade 1 Womens Pairs, Alice Dymond and Jess Svensonn looked very strong on the floor together being placed 12th and Chloe Hayes and Heather Reed enjoyed their routine in the category.
Kaye Smith a parent supporter said " I am just so proud today... this is a real acheivement for the club's younger gymnasts. To bring home these medals is just fantastic. It shows that their hard work in training and dedication to the sport is already paying off. The huge smiles on their faces says it all.
The Monarchs will be straight back into training as next weekend sees our older gymnasts competing in the South West Championships in Taunton. Good Luck to them all.
8th June 2010:
BRITISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to brothers Sean and Conor McKenna, Acrobatic Gymnasts from Monarchs Gymnastics Club Highbridge, based at King Alfred School, who have been declared BRITISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS!The boys represented the South West Region and had previously won a place in the team to compete in the regional finals, held in Stoke-on-Trent in May, gaining first place in the Over 13 Boys Pairs and winning Gold Medals. They competed against six other pairs in their category achieving a clear win. This result adds to the many successes of the sports acro club so far this year.
Sean and Conor McKenna proudly sporting their medals
31st May 2010:
BRONZE AND GOLD AT NATIONAL REGIONAL FINALS IN STOKE ON TRENT
Seven members of the Burnham-On-Sea Monarchs Gymnastic Club are celebrating success after all winning medals at the Regional NDP Finals Competition in Stoke, in May.'International 1' Trio, Nicole McArdle, Lily Lawson and Nicole Coogan gained a well deserved bronze medal. After their Dynamic Routine, the girls were sitting in 4th place with over 2 points behind the 3rd place competitors. The girls went out to perform their 2nd routine which was Balance and completed a nice clean routine which put them finishing in 3rd place overall.
The Grade 3 'Mens Four' , Sean Mckenna, Connor Mckenna, Jacob Baker and Joseph Blake performed two very good routines gaining them gold medals and giving them the title of National Champions.
Helen Coogan, one of the parents who spent the weekend in Stoke with the gymnasts said, �It�s great for them all to come home with medals. It makes all the hard work that they put in training for over 17 hours a week seem worthwhile. The club should be very proud of them all��.
Both categories were filmed live by BGTV and can be viewed on line.
2nd May 2010:
Inter-Regional Prep B, Level 1 and Novice Groups Team Competition in Southampton
Cheers of joy for the Monarchs Acrobatic Gymnastics Club again as 7 young Gymnasts return from the Inter-Regional Prep B, Level 1 and Novice Groups Team Competition held in Southampton last weekend, bringing home more medals! They had already competed earlier in March, where they qualified to represent the South West Team, in the competition.Natalie Hughes, Leonie Wurbarton, Emily-Kay Smith forming the Woman's Trio in Prep B section competed against nine other partnerships and won silver medals, after displaying a routine to be proud of.
Conor McKenna and Charlie Dymond just missed out winning Bronze and came 4th in the finals in Grade 1 Men's Pairs and Jacob Baker and Joseph Reed came 5th overall in the finals in Prep B Men's Pairs.
The South West Team won the Bronze Shield for coming third overall. Below is a photo of the Gymnasts and their coaches Tony Merrett and Mandy Wurbarton.
16th April 2010:
British Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships 2010
Eight members of the Monarch Acro Gymnastics Club, Highbridge and their coaches return from The British Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships 2010 in Stoke on Trent. They competed against over 250 gymnasts from some of the top clubs in Britain. Overall 28 clubs entered into the five categories of the competition, resulting in a two day spectacular event.Hollie Hoskins, Crystal Hale and Emily Woolley entered the 11-16 Woman's Trio. This was the girl's second competition together having trained for only 4 months. They performed two clean routines in tempo and balance and are looking to grow from strength to strength. 'It was an amazing experience for us to compete with such high level gymnasts, some had even competed in the World Championships last year.'
Abby MacArdle, Georgia Green and Jazmine Bassett entered the Woman's Junior Trio. This proved to be a highly competitive category and despite a confident Tempo routine, their Balance routine didn't provide them with enough marks to reach the final on Sunday.
Ashley Payne and Katie Hoskins entered the Junior Mixed Pair category. Competing against previous European Champions, nerves were running high. Their Balance routine put them in 4th place and after surviving a nasty fall during their Tempo routine just managed to qualify for the finals on Sunday, where they came 5th overall.
British Gymnastics Television were there to film the highlights of the event.
Click here for link to televised events, including Monarchs trio
3rd April 2010:
South West Prelims 2010
Recently, over 30 members of the Monarch's Acro Gymnastics Club travelled to Taunton to compete in the South West Prelims 2010 against 25 other clubs from the South West Region.Competition was again of a very high standard with new partnership Alice Dymond and Jessie Svensson gaining 8th place out of 34 competitors with their Grade 1 woman's pair routine and Grade 1 men's pair, Conor McKenna and Charlie Dymond just missing out on a Bronze medal for their routine.
Congratulations go to Grade 3 Men's Pair Sean McKenna and Joseph Blake gaining a well deserved Silver Medal and again the Grade 3 Men's Groups Sean McKenna, Conor McKenna, Jacob Baker and Joseph Blake scoring well to earn the Gold Medal and qualifying to represent the South West in the NDP Finals to be held in Stoke on Trent later in the year.
Competing for the Club in the Tumbling was Crystal Hale who just missed out on the bronze medal gaining 4th place out of 17 in the National Level 1.
This is the second of many competitions held this year and the dedication and training of the Monarch's Gymnasts and coaches are already reaping in the rewards!
24th Mar 2010:
SILVER CUP AND GOLD MEDALS FOR MONARCHS ACRO GYMNASTICS CLUB
Twenty Two members of Monarchs Acro Gymnastics Club return from Portugal after competing in the Maia International Acro Cup 2010 this month. Twenty two delegations from nine different countries including Russia, competed together resulting in an exciting, stimulating competition, illustrating elite level actrobatic gymnastics at its best. Families were able to watch the gymnasts live on the internet, local TV and journalist were also present.
Monarchs were represented by two teams. Age Group Team including woman's pair Sian Coogan and Sophie McArdle, Men's Group Sean McKenna, Conor McKenna, Jacob Baker and Joseph Blake and Woman's Trio Hollie Hoskins, Crystale Hale and Emily Woolley. Junior Team including three trios; Abby McArdle, Georgia Green and Jazmine Bassett, Nicole McArdle, Lily Lawson and Nicole Coogan, Lauren Jarrett, Emily Hodder and Ellie Cator and Mixed Pair Ashley Payne and Katie Hoskins.
Sophie and Sian whilst demonstrated two clean routines were disadvantaged with a height penalty and were 9th overall. Hollie, Crystal and Emily have only been training three months as a trio and were running 6th after their tempo routine, however, due to nerves running high dropped to 14th overall. Sean, Conor, Jacob and Jo continue to go from strength to strength and gain yet another gold medal for their tempo and balance routines.
Competition was of a very high standard in the Juniors section both Abby, Georgia and Jazmine and Nicole, Lily and Nicole managed to maintain their positions of 5th and 6th place respectively with their routines qualifying for the finals on the Sunday and again finishing 5th and 6th place overall. Lauren, Emily and Ellie just missed out on the finals, qualifying 9th overall. Mixed Pair Ashley and Katie qualified for the finals, however, lost a high deduction with their combined routine and qualifed 6th overall. The total score gained by the Junior Team won them the Team Silver Cup overall.
Many parents supported the Teams in Portugal. 'Watching the Gymnasts in action fills you with pride. There's often a sharp intake of breath and you watch them somersault through the air! Competing in an International competition like in Portugal provides a wealth of valuable experience for the gymnasts, where they can see for themselves what is expected at elite level.'
Click here to see photos
Anyone who would like more information about the club please contact:
Tony Merrett - Head Coach
Telephone:
Home: 01278 793457
Mobile: 07763806557
Email: tonymerrett@talktalk.net