GYMNASTS’ EUROPEAN ADVENTURES
MEMBERS of one of the county’s most successful sports clubs are busy preparing for a hectic schedule of national and international competitions at the moment in the wake of a very successful showing at European championship level.
Gymnasts from the Gymstars Gymnastics club in Barntown, competed in the European Championships in Israel in the run up to Christmas.
Eight young athletes from the club travelled to Holon as part of the Irish National Acro Gymnastics squad competing in the 10th Annual European Age Group championships (EAG).
The gymnasts formed three partnerships including trio groups composed of: Isabella Gainford, Aoibhe Ormonde and Katie Nolan; Eve Kinsella, Aoife Prunty and Alison Doyle, a duo featuring Mair Williams and Abby Mulligan.
The girls and their coaches, Joanne Mahoney and Aoife D’Alton, have worked tirelessly over the past number of years to develop their skills to enable them reach an competitive international level.
As part of the largest Irish team for many years to compete at the EAG championships the three Wexford based groups performed two routines each over four days of competition.
All of their routines were performed cleanly and the gymnasts and coaches were thrilled with their results.
In the 12 to 18 age group Mair Williams and Abby Mulligan ranked 17 th in qualification.
The two girls already had the prestige of being the only pair to compete for Ireland at the World Championships in Belgium,in 2018.
Eve Kinsella, Alison Doyle and Aoife Prunty ranked 19th overall in qualification while in the 11 to 16 age group, Isabella Gainford, Aoibhe Ormonde and Katie Nolan were ranked 13th overall at qualification stage.
A spokesperson for the club commented: ‘This was a great achievement for both trios considering it was their first major international competition.’
‘The Gymstars club, the gymnasts, and their parents are very grateful to those who contributed in any way to the travel fund for the gymnasts as, without your help, it would be very difficult for the girls to travel to International events,’ said the spokesperson.
In particular thanks was extended to the club’s main trip sponsors: Brian Hogan Pharmacy, Sing Out Loud, Sports Active Wexford and Lantern Events.
The eight gymnasts, along with the their team mates and coaches, are now training 15-hours-per-week in preparation for upcoming competitions; the first of which will be the Spelthorne Acro Cup in the UK in February. In July the club will be competing in the Turin Acro Cup in Italy, howeve, the gymnasts will also have their sights set firmly on qualifying for this years World Age Group Acro Championships.
They will be held in Switzerland in May and don’t bet against Wexford featuring prominently in the line-up.