County Championships 2007

In the morning, representing Bicester & District were Hana Ayers, Annabelle Clifton and Tabitha Saltzer all in the Level 5 out of age category.

Apart from a couple of falls off the beam by Tabitha all three girls performed well above their norm. By halfway they were holding onto the 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. Tabitha had two highest scores on Vault and Bars. Annabelle had second highest floor and 3rd highest beam scores. Hana had second highest beam score. They all did well and Susan and Angela who have been working with these girls are very pleased with their results. We thought they had qualified for Southern Region Finals but as they were in the senior out of age category they don't get put through. Annabelle was the only one to get on the podium finishing overall 2nd place level 5 out of age. Placings for level 5 out of age senior were Annabelle 2nd, Hana 3rd and Tabitha 5th.

Level 5 out-of-age BDGC representatives, with coach Susan. From left to right: Susan, Annabelle, Hana and Tabitha.

In the afternoon session, representing Bicester & District were Chloe Banks and Morgan Broom in the Level 4 out-of-age category, and Harriet Bruce, Gemma Sole and Daisy Ryan-Pont all competing at level 3 out-of-age.

Chloe and Morgan started their day on beam which, was the toughest piece for all the gymnasts in the competition as they had introduced a new short exercise rule and scores were well down from last years. We won't go into this piece, much work to be done here. Chloe finished 4th overall and Morgan 5th overall qualifying for South Region finals. Morgan had a very tidy floor routine and eventhough she didn't have somersaults she managed to achieve the highest floor score of 11.55. Chloe just had to show the judges her famous "baulking" vault which gets a score "ZERO". Luckily she managed to pull herself together and perform a vault that gave her the 3rd highest vault in level 4 out of age.Chloe also managed to pick up her weak bar routine and again achieve 3rd on bars.

The afternoon competition proved very tough, and none of the girls achieved an overall score high enough to get a medal; and medals were not awarded for individual pieces. If medals were given for individual pieces Daisy would have gotten Silver for her A-Bar level 3 out of age (she had the highest A-Bar in level 3 out of age senior category).

However, all five were pleased to hear their names read out as qualifiers for the Southern Region Levels, once again to be held at the Phoenix club.

Bicester Gymnasts with their invitations to the regional competition, along with coaches Glenn and Angela. From left to right: Glenn, Daisy, Harriet, Gemma, Morgan, Chloe and Angela.