Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
National award for Phoebe
Gymnastics
A member of Spires’ elite gymnastics academy has received a national award for services to sport.
Phoebe Blair, 12, attended the 2017 British Gymnastics National Awards held at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
The Year 8 pupil was named Young Volunteer of the Year after being nominated by, Canterbury Gymnastics Club, which works in partnership with Spires Academy.
Hundreds of nominations are made from clubs across the country for British Gymnastics’ national awards and Blair was put forward by Canterbury Gymnastics’ lead coach Debie Cooper.
Blair was praised for dedicating her time to coaching younger children at Canterbury Gymnastics’ recreational classes, as well as beginners at the satellite Folkestone club based at Hawkinge Community Centre. She choreographed gymnastic routines for the youngsters’ shows and at Spires led a group of 25 Year 7 pupils in trials for the school’s elite gymnastics academy.
Blair, who also competes for both Spires and Canterbury Gymnastics Club, was picked from a shortlist of three for the Young Volunteer of the Year award. She was the young- est award nominee at the national ceremony.
The youngster, who is nursing a broken arm after injuring herself in training, met some of her sporting heroes on the night, including GB gymnast Beth Tweddle, who retweeted a picture of herself and Blair at the awards.
Nicky Lewis, head of sports development at Spires Academy said: “Phoebe is a true inspiration to other young people and the award is a testament to her hard work.
“We are so proud of her achievements both for her incredible performances as a skilled gymnast within the Spires Academy elite gymnastics programme and for her volunteering work.”
Rae Mattioli, owner of Canterbury GC said: “We are so proud of the hard work and dedication that Phoebe shows so selflessly. She is truly a special girl who has a bright future ahead of her. We couldn’t be prouder of her.”