The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Temporary closure of centre could leave gymnasts in the lurch
MCTAGGART: Fears that six-week shutdown of city’s popular facility will impact on training
Young athletes in and around Dundee could be left at the starting blocks when the city’s main gymnastic centre closes temporarily from early next year.
The Dick Mctaggart Gymnastics Centre, which features specialist equipment for elite competitors, will close for around six weeks from January 6 to allow for maintenance work.
The closure of the Old Glamis Road facility – the leading regional gymnastics training centre – means regular users need to train elsewhere.
Stuart Paton, whose 10-year-old daughter represented Scotland at the British Championships earlier this year, fears there is no other adequate local facility.
He said: “My daughter trains 10 hours per week with the Dundee Gymnastics Club 2K, competing for the elite level tumble team.
“Competitions start immediately in January when the season starts.
“The tumblers wont be able to train during the closure because the nearest tumble facilities are in Glasgow.
“Obviously at the level they are
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This won’t just affect elite athletes – the facilities are used by all. PARENT STUART PATON
competing, this could effect their season.
“There are other local facilities but these are beginner level and wouldn’t be able to accommodate the volume of gymnasts over the six-week period.”
Originally a general sports facility, the building was transformed in a £2 million Dundee City Council and Sportscotland project in 2013.
It has been hugely popular with all levels of gymnasts from across Tayside ever since.
It also features trampolines for use in competitions and training.
Mr Paton added: “This won’t just affect elite athletes – the facilities are used by all communities.
“My other daughter attends gymnastic classes there.
“We still haven’t received any notification in relation to these classes.”
The centre is owned by the council but run by arms-length organisation Leisure & Culture Dundee.
A spokesperson for the organisation said: “We are actively working with all clubs to make alternative arrangements.”
The centre is named after one of the city’s greatest-ever athletes.
Boxer Dick Mctaggart won gold at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne by beating European champion Harry Kurschat of Germany on points.
To date, he remains the only Scottish boxer to win Olympic gold, and he is regarded as the finest amateur boxer Britain has ever produced.
A statue of the city legend was erected at St Francis ABC Sporting Club in 2015.