19/01/2020
Competition Success in Southampton
On Saturday 18 January, Milton Keynes Gymnastics Club took nine trampoline gymnasts to Southampton for the first Southern Regional Test event of 2020. This competition was the first chance for the performers to achieve qualification to the Regional Final in March, and to do so, a minimum score of 46.0 across two compulsory routines is required. Regional levels increase in difficulty, starting at NDP1 and going up to the most difficult, NDP6.
Up first was the Level 1 competitors ages 9-10, and MK struck double gold in both the male and female groups with Ben Taylor and Erin Kielty. Ben scored 52.3 with two outstanding routines, winning his group by a massive 5 marks. Erin totaled a score of 50.75, but hot on her heels was MK’s Abigail Bass, who came a close second place with a score of 50.6. Also in this category was Medeea Radu, who came in 12th place. For all three girls there is plenty to be proud of from their first ever competition.
In the female 11-12 category, Keja de Silva took the gold medal away from her first ever competition in a large group of 26 girls, scoring 51.45, and importantly surpassing that minimum score of 46.0 and qualifying along with Ben, Erin, and Abigail in NDP level 1.
Moving up to NDP level 3, Lillyella Tripp earned herself the silver medal in the female 9-10 group with a score of 50.2, narrowly missing out on the gold by just 0.1. In the 13-17 age category, Lucy Tyrrell placed a respectable 5th in her first competition at level 3, scoring 49.0. Both qualified through to the next round of competition.
The final two gymnasts both competed in the level 5 female 15-21 group. Nathalie Hardy was up first and performed a clean A routine placing her in 8th after the first round. Unfortunately, a mistake in the B routine and the unforgiving nature of the sport meant that she received a zero score in the second round. She totaled 25.2, which would have surely seen her sail through to the next round had she repeated the excellent ex*****on of the first routine. In the second flight of the group was MK’s Amelia Hemming. Having had a knock to her confidence in training earlier in the week, Amelia performed two clean routines and scored a total of 48.8, seeing her safely through to the next round, and coming in 9th place.
We would like to thank the coaches, judges, friends, and family who travelled down to Southampton to support their gymnasts. Your effort does not go unnoticed, and we are certain it is appreciated by all involved. Overall, a successful weekend was had by the Milton Keynes Gymnastics trampolinists, a feat which we are sure will be repeated throughout the competition season.
