GYMNASTS are turning cartwheels after taking the honours at a keenly fought area competition.
Students from The Allertonshire School, Northallerton, came away with a host of awards at a contest for Year 7, 8, and 9 gymnasts.
The Hambleton and Richmondshire Area Championships were staged at Hambleton Leisure Centre, Northallerton, organised by Kirsty Thompson, a PE teacher at the Allertonshire.
Callum Crisp, 11, and Ben Harrison, 13, took first place in the under 13 pairs competition, which involved floor and vault exercises.
They were also part of the winning under 13 boys team that included James Boucher, 11, Josh Hamilton, 11, and Jacob Stone, 11.
Ben, a member of Darlington Gymnastics Club, said: “I love gymnastics. It’s great fun jumping around and I was delighted to win, particularly as I didn’t expect to do so. I would love one day to compete for Team GB.”
The under 13 girls team also collected the top prize performing well in the vault and on the floor against a high quality field of eight teams and more than 40 competitors.
Sophia Law took 1st place in the floor work with Millie Smith in 3rd and Ruby Wilson in 4th. Millie finished 4th in the vault. In the combined floor and vault Millie Smith, took the bronze medal, with Ella Coulthard 5th, Sophia Law 6th, Beth Marshall and Ruby Wilson equal 7th.
Ruby Wilson, 11, and Beth Marshall, 12, took second place in the pairs. Millie Smith and Ella Coulthard were 4th.
The Year 9 gymnastic teams came third overall, with Jonathan Mann, 13, taking third place in the individuals and second in the mixed pairs with Nicola Jobling, 14. Head of PE Sandra Horner said: “All the students worked incredibly hard in the run up to the competition and deserved the success they achieved.
“The quality of athletes was extremely high so to perform so well was testament to their commitment and love of gymnastics.”
