Hundreds of gymnasts converge on Geelong for regional championships

MORE than 230 gymnasts from nine clubs will compete in the 2018 Metro West Regional Gymnastics Championships at Geelong YMCA Gymnastics Club this weekend.

Gymnastics Victoria’s Regional Championships will take place all across Victoria this month to allow for fairer and more far-reaching qualifications for the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Junior Victorian Championships.

The Regional Championships are for women’s artistic gymnasts competing in levels 3-6 as teams and in levels 5 and 6 as individuals.

Gymnasts will compete to be the champions of their region and will also qualify for the Junior Victorian Championships, which will be held in November at Geelong Arena and Eastern Gymnastics Club.

At the Regional Championships, women’s artistic gymnasts will compete on vault, beam, bars and floor to give the audience a great show over the course of the two-day competition.

The event is sure to be a brilliant showcase of local talent, where gymnasts from Geelong YMCA Gymnastics Club, Werribee Gymnastics Club, Resilience Gymnastics, Niddrie Gymnastics Club, Gymnastics Unlimited, Aerosport Allstars, Lifestyle for Kids, Melton Gymnastics Academy and Essendon Keilor Gymnastics Academy can demonstrate their strength, agility and creativity.

Gymnastics Victoria’s chief executive officer, Jamie Parsons, is looking forward to the second year of the Regional Championships and the great gymnastics Victorians will be able to enjoy.

“This event is a great way for regional parts of Victoria to get more involved in gymnastics and have more opportunities to compete in our impressive sport,” Mr Parsons said.

“Gymnastics is a fantastic sport to watch and this event will be highly entertaining for all of the spectators who come along over the weekend.”

The Metro West Regional Championships will take place on October 13 and 14 at Geelong YMCA Gymnastics Club.

ALEX OATES