Hitting the heights
Gymnasts on development squad
FIVE MEMBERS of Wexford Gymnastics Club’s trampoline discipline - Olivia Breen (12), Isabelle Walsh (12), Sarah Rooney (12), Chloe Morrisey (12) and Caithlyn Kelly (11) - have just made history by being the first-ever club members to be selected by Gymnastics Ireland as part of the national development squad 2017.
It has been a long road of preparation to reach this milestone, with a minimum of four to eight training hours per week since June, 2016. The girls all had to compete in the national team event in November in University Limerick which was also a squad trial event.
The club also made history by competing at this event for the first time where 16 club members made up four teams and took home in the NDP1 level a total of twelve medals, as well as four NDP2 level medals, winning national team titles.
From these scores, Gymnastics Ireland selected the 2017 national development squad which was announced on February 16.
After this competition, it was back to the gym to prepare for a trampoline workshop in Dublin in December with Olympic coach Paul Greeves who is the personal coach of Olympic silver medallist Bryony Page.
The children excelled and there was excitement in the form of a Facetime questions and answers with Brony herself plus her Olympic medal!
This set the tone for the coming weeks’ preparation for the national qualifiers on March 4-5 at the new purpose-built home of Gymnastics Ireland at the National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown.
In the run-up to qualifications the girls have prepared and competed at our club championships and Grand Prix events over the past number of weekends and have upskilled their routines in preparation for the upcoming national qualifier event.
The girls are so delighted to have reached the requirements to enable them earn a spot on the national development squad and are looking forward to training workshops with national coaches.
It’s an exciting time for all five and fitting reward for their efforts.