Yeovil gymnasts make finals in national acrobatics championships
 Louise and Sammy finish second and fifth in British Tournament

Two Yeovil gymnasts have taken silver medals at a high-level international gymnastics tournament.

14-year-old Louise Miller, a Year 9 student at Westfield Academy, and 18-year-old Samantha Britten, were competing in Stoke-on-Trent at the Pat Wade Classic – an international tournament held in memory of the former world head of acrobatic gymnastics.

Each performing three dramatic routines with their acrobatic gymnastics partners from Honiton Gymnastics Club, they tumbled, performed partner elements and danced their way to the finals.  What’s more, Louise and mixed pair partner Joshua Jackson, from Plymouth, finished the tournament with a fabulous silver medal and Sammy – with trio partners Charlotte Bevisss and Kaisha Dessalines-Wright from Honiton – took fifth position.

The competition marks the girls’ next stage of gymnastics development after starting work with their new partners earlier this year at Honiton Gymnastics Club. 

“We both saved our best routine for the finals,” said Louise.  “Josh and I had to work very hard after finishing the first round in fourth place and the second round in third.  In the final – our combined routine – we improved our performance again, increasing the difficulty of our routine and reducing the number of mistakes we made.  It was great to finish in second, and I can’t wait to learn harder moves and move up to the next level next year.”

Sammy, whose success follows on from a bronze medal at the Swiss International Acro Cup in June, said: “It’s always been an ambition of mine to compete at an international level British Championship, so to make the finals was a dream come true.  We move up another level next year, so we will have to pick up the pace over the next few moves and learn a lot of new moves.  It will be hard work, but I can’t wait for the challenge.”

Both Louise and Sammy’s partnerships competed in the 12-18 age group category.  Louise is an acrobatic top, so she is launched in the air by her partner for double and twisting somersaults and she balances in handstands above Josh’s head.  Sammy on the other hand is a women’s trio base so she does the throwing and balancing.

Both girls make the journey to Honiton Gymnastics Club four times per week to train with their partners.  Before joining Honiton Gymnastics Club they were both successful gymnasts at Gryphon West Gymnastics Club in Sherborne.  They will become full juniors next year when they compete in 13-19 category, which requires an even higher level of technical difficulty.

“The girls have only been training with their partners for between four and six months, but they have already achieved so much,” said James Reddy, high performance coach at Honiton Gymnastics Club.  “Over the coming months they will be looking to consolidate their skills, learn new balance elements and introduce new somersaults their dynamic elements.”
  

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