South Essex Gymnastics Club Impresses at English Championships 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

South Essex Gymnastics Club took to the competition floor at the English National Championships, held at the Telford International Centre. With gymnasts across multiple age categories showcasing their skills, it was a fantastic weekend of growth, competition, and outstanding performances. The competition was intense, but our athletes stepped up with determination and confidence, making the club proud.

A Strong Start in the Aspire Category

On Friday, February 28th, Joey James made her debut at the English Championships in the Aspire age category. Joey demonstrated significant improvements from her last competition, incorporating new skills and showing great progress. Competing at a national level is always a huge step up, and Joey took on the challenge with poise and determination. This was an invaluable experience that will serve as a stepping stone for future competitions, helping her gain confidence on a big stage.

Senior Success on Saturday

Saturday saw the Senior competition, with Tommera Hendricks making her second outing of the year after competing at BUCS University Championships earlier in February. Tommera delivered a brilliant performance, improving her score from BUCS—a remarkable achievement considering the challenge of balancing university studies, training, and a 2+ hour commute to the gym. Her dedication to both her academics and gymnastics is truly inspiring, and she continues to thrive at the highest level of gymnastics. Competing at such a high level while managing such a demanding schedule is no easy feat, and Tommera proved once again that resilience and hard work pay off.

Juniors Shine on Sunday

Sunday was the turn of our Junior gymnasts, and they did not disappoint! Sienna McCoy, Lilly Shepherd, Alena Carter, Andrea Ndoro, and Simone Seed all stepped up and delivered some of their best performances to date. Many athletes debuted new skills and routines, handling the challenge with confidence and style. The progress shown by all our junior competitors is a reflection of the dedication they have put into training, and their commitment is paying off in competition.

A special shout-out to our medal winners:

• Simone Seed – 5th All-Around, 2nd on Bars (12.55) 🥈

• Andrea Ndoro – 7th All-Around, 3rd on Vault, 3rd on Beam, 2nd on Floor 🥉🥉🥈

• Alena Carter – 3rd on Bars (12.45) 🥉 (competing a new routine for the first time!)

Simone and Andrea were standout performers, achieving strong placements in the All-Around standings and showing remarkable consistency across multiple apparatus. Simone’s silver medal on bars came after an elegant routine that showcased her technical precision, while Alena’s bronze on bars was an impressive achievement, given that she was performing a brand-new routine in competition for the first time. Andrea had an exceptional day, securing three podium finishes, demonstrating her versatility and composure under pressure.

A Fantastic Weekend of Competition

The English Championships is always an intense and highly competitive event, with gymnasts from across the country competing at the highest level. The atmosphere in the Telford International Centre was electric, and our gymnasts handled the pressure superbly, delivering performances that reflected their months of preparation. These competitions not only test technical skills but also challenge athletes mentally, and the ability to perform under such conditions is what sets great gymnasts apart.

The coaching team—Michelle Flemings, Caron Notton, Nicole Wooder, and Ross Falsetta—are exceptionally proud of the team's performances and are excited for the year ahead with such a dedicated and talented group. The weekend was a true team effort, with coaches providing valuable support and guidance throughout the competition. The resilience, discipline, and teamwork displayed by our gymnasts make us incredibly excited for what’s to come this season.

Looking Ahead

With the English Championships now behind us, our gymnasts will be returning to training with fresh motivation and clear goals for their next competitions. This event has provided valuable experience and feedback, helping us fine-tune routines and strategies moving forward. The season is just getting started, and we are eager to see how our gymnasts continue to progress and push their limits in the months ahead.

Congratulations to all our gymnasts for their outstanding performances, and thank you to our incredible coaching team for their support and guidance.