Gunnedah gymnasts at NSW Country Championships

A team of 17 gymnasts from Gunnedah Gymnastics Centre headed to Armidale recently to compete at the 2022 NSW Country Championships.

The girls put their best foot forward, all performing marvellously on one of country gymnastics’ biggest stages.

Indiella Bryers put on a clinical display, taking out gold in the women’s level eight all ages with an impressive score of 46.950, a huge four points ahead of second place with a score of 42.616.

The goldrush did not stop there for the Gunnedah gymnasts, with Mikayla Ferguson winning women’s level six, division three with 36.275 and Arabella Holmes winning the level five, division two competition with a combined score of 35.800.

Gunnedah Gymnastics Centre’s Debbie Croft, said the five-day event saw some great results for the Gunnedah gymnasts.

“The Country Championships is a huge event,” she said.

“The girls all did extremely well and we are all so proud of them. Gymnastics is a lovely sport to be involved with and teaches life experiences, such as being committed, supporting other team members and turning up on time.”

Levels three and four are a banded competition, meaning there are no overall winners, although all competitors walked away with either a gold, silver or bronze medallion.

“If their score is 36 or more, they are gold banded, 35-35.99 is silver and 34-34.99 is bronze,” Debbie said.

“It is like a mass participation event, with no rankings on apparatus, but encourages all the gymnasts and helps build their confidence.”

For levels three and four, Adelaide Abra was awarded gold as was Lilah Edmunds, Mia Geddes, Kate Randall, Eden Molenkamp, Ava Willoughby, Kelly Briggs and Ruby Chorley.

Grace Baker, Hadley Durrant, Lexi Horwood, Ruby Shields, Bianca Bayliss and Amber King all were awarded silver and Mia Griffith secured bronze.

Debbie said the higher levels train five days a week, while the lower train four.

“We work with the philosophy of a little bit and often is the best,” she said.

“It enables daily revision and gentle progress, minimising injury risk and helping the athlete’s confidence grow.

“Gymnastics is a complex sport with so many different elements. Vault and bars involve strength, timing and coordination, while floor and beam are more artistic.”