Hillingdon Borough Gymnastics Competition
Hillingdon Borough Gymnastics Competition
On Tuesday 9th December, 11 Harefield Academy gymnasts went to Guru Nanak Sikh Secondary School in Hayes for a Hillingdon Borough Gymnastics Competition. Schools from all over the borough had been practising their gymnastics skills to compete against each other in two different age categories, Under 12 and Under 14. With very little time to prepare 11 of our Under 12 gymnasts, who only practice once a week worked hard to learn new routines and vaults.
They all performed to their best on the day and the competition was very very close.
Our three boys Connor Barlett, Ryan Barlett and Ashley Baldwin all in Year 7, showed how gymnastics is really done and swept the board taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Unfortunately the team competition was made up of fours and so they boys could not participate in the team competition.
The girl’s competition was a lot tougher with over 45 girls in the one category. Amber Campbell-White in Year 7 performed her routines to near perfection scoring the highest out of everyone and taking individual gold.
The team competition was very close and the girls all sat nervous for the final results knowing that it could be another medal for Harefield. With two teams from The Academy entered and everyone performing their best it was very hard to judge who was going to come out on top. The team consisting of Amber Campbell-White, Jessica Blanks (Y8), Tilly James (Y7) and Poppy Heath (Y7) were the better team on the day and came away with team silver. We were told that it was very close to first place as well so the girls know for next time that they can improve. Our other team with Heather Lord, Crystal Howlett, Alyshia O’Brien and Carol Cripps, who are all in Year 7, did not make it onto the medal stand but were not far behind third place and should be very proud of their achievements.
A Thank you must go to Matthew Short and Laura Noone, who both took time out of their training and their studies to come and help judge the competition and also give a display of high level gymnastics at the end of the competition.
Well done to all who took part and good luck for any future events.
Grace Blacklock