The Devon novice championships took place at Plymouth swallows gymnastics club on Sunday

5th October 2008. We entered 5 of our elite squad gymnasts and two of our intermediate squad gymnasts.

In the Under 11 age group we only had one competitor, Tallulah Bird. Tallulah did extremely well to finish is 23rd place.

The Under 9's girls did exceptionally well competing against 30 gymnasts from across Devon.

Results

Imogen Plumridge = 1st overall

Charlie Plumridge = 2nd overall

Amy Philbin = 3rd overall

Emily Philbin = 5th overall

Olivia Dean = 6th overall

Rachel Underhay = 21st overall

Vault

1st Imogen Plumridge,
3rd Emily Philbin

Bars

1st Charlie Plumridge
2nd Imogen Plumridge
 3rd Amy Philbin

Beam

1st Imogen Plumridge
2nd Amy Philbin
3rd Olivia Dean

 Floor

 1St Charlie Plumridge
2nd Emily Philbin

On Saturday 14th September three of our elite squad gymnasts travelled up to Wiltshire to compete in the U.K Alpha Factor invitational competition, this was their first National competition and they all did exceptionally well against the best 8 and 9 year olds in the country. In the level 4, 8 years age group twins Imogen and Charlie Plumridge competed well, both having a clean competition. They competed brilliantly to finish is 11th and 15th respectively. In the level 4, 9 years age group Jessica Sanders – Wyatt competed extremely well against a strong field of 40 to finish in 9th place overall, she was also placed 6th on the beam. All 3 girls had a clean competition and they did themselves and the club proud. Good luck to Jessica who is competing in the South West Age groups Championships in Bristol on Sunday 28th September 2008.

From left to right Imogen Plumridge, Jess Sanders – Wyatt and Charlie Plumridge

The U/9 team consisting of Bethany Norman, Lily Barwood, Rachel Underhay, Jodie Roberts, Courtenay Pagget and Nicole Bartell,competed well to come away as silver medallist just 1 mark behind 1st place. For Jodie, Courtenay and Lily this was their first 5 piece competition. For Lily who has only just turned 7 this was only her 2nd ever competition.

U/9 team = 2nd Overall

Bethany Norman = 1^st overall
Lily Barwood = 6^th overall
Rachel Underhay =7^th overall
Jodie Roberts = 19^th overall
Courtenay Pagget = 20^th overall
Nicole Bartell = 21^st overall.

The U/11 team consisting of Tallulah Bird, Abi Nicholls, Ella Morse, Lauren Perkin and Holly Fear finished in bronze medal position. For Lauren this was her first 5 piece competition

U/11 team = 3rd overall

Tallulah Bird = 1^st overall
Abi Nicholls = 18^th overall
Ella Morse = 22^nd overall
Holly Fear  = 25^th overall
Courtenay Pagget = 26^th overall

The O/15 team which consisted of Rachael Hill and Jennifer Wilton who both coach at the club and Maddy Ayres, Jess Crawford and Jess North who are all trainee coaches came away as the Buddy 0/15 team champions winning by a clear margin of 5 whole marks.

Over / 15 team = 1st Place overall

Maddy Ayres = 2^nd overall
Rachael Hill = 3^rd overall
Jess North = 6^th overall
Jenn Wilton = 7^th overall
Jess Crawford  = 15^th overall

On Sunday 22nd June 8 of our squad girls and one of our intermediate squad girls went to Exeter to compete in the Devon team competition.

In the Open U/12 we had 3 gymnasts entered and they made up a mixed team with two girls from Newton Abbot.

The team finished in silver medal position.

Amy Washbrook = 6th overall
Jess Sanders-Wyatt = 7th overall
Tiera Ellis = 9th overall.

The U/9 team of Imogen and Charlie Plumridge, Olivia Dean, South Devon girls A and B and Bethany Norman came away as the U/9 Devon team champions beating the team from Plymouth who finished in 2nd by 8 whole marks!!!!

Imogen Plumridge = U/9 overall champion
Amy Philbin = silver medallist
Charlie Plumridge = Bronze medallist
Olivia Dean = 6th overall
Emily Philbin = 9th overall
Bethany Norman = 14th overall.

WELL DONE GIRLS THESE WERE FANTASTIC RESULTS AND YOU SHOULD BE REALLY PLEASED!!

On Sunday the 1st June 7 of our elite squad gymnasts went to Poole to compete in the Poole open competition. The girls competed in age groups and levels against girls from all over the South of England. For the five Level 5 girls this was their first ever competition out of Devon!!

Level 5 in age (children born in 2000)

Charlie Plumridge = overall silver medallist!! 4th on vault, 3rd on bars, beam and floor.
Imogen Plumridge = overall bronze medallist!! 2nd on vault, 1st on bars and 6th on floor.
Amy Philbin = overall 4th place!! 5th on vault, 4th on bars and 2nd on beam.
Olivia Dean = overall 6th place!! 3rd on vault, 5th on beam and 3rd on floor.
Emily Philbin = Overall 7th place!! 6th on vault and 5th on bars

Level 4 in age (children born in 1999)

Jess Sanders-Wyatt = overall champion!! 2nd on vault and bars, 1st on beam, 6th on Floor.

Level 3 out of age (children born 1997+)

Amy Washbrook = overall 4th place,4th on vault,3rd on bars, 5th on beam, 2nd on floor.

27 places in the top 6!! A L4 champion, a L5 silver medallist and a L5 bronze medallist!! These were our best ever results at a South West competition. Well done girls you did yourselves and the club proud!!!!

Congratulations to Amy Washbrook aged 11 who represented the Devon ‘A’ team at the South West Inter-counties on Sunday 18th May at the Forest of Dean gymnastics club in Gloucester. Amy competed well helping the Devon ‘A’ team to finish in silver medal position. The team was made up of 2 gymnasts from Newton Abbot, 3 gymnasts from Exeter and herself. Competing on full FIG rules (Olympic rules) she did well to finish in 12th position overall. Amy did well competing against the best U/12 gymnasts in the South West. Well done Amy you did yourself and the club proud.

On Saturday 10^th May Devon held their first county apparatus finals at Exeter gymnastics club. The club had 3 gymnasts that had qualified for this competition. This year’s open and intermediate competition was used as a qualifier for apparatus finals.

8 year old Jessica Sanders – Wyatt qualified for all 4 apparatus finals as did 9 year old Josie Cox both competing in the Under 9 age group. 11 year old Amy Washbrook qualified for the floor, beam and bar finals.

Due to illness Josie was unfortunately unable to compete at this competition.

Jessica Sanders – Wyatt who improved her skill level on bars to compete her giant repeated her success from the Devon open championships to come away as the overall champion. She also came away with a silver medal, 3 gold medals and 3 trophies.

Vault – U/9 Vault Champion

Bars – U/9 Bars champion

Beam – U/9 Beam silver medallist

Floor – U/9 floor champion

Amy Washbrook who in March was the Devon U/13 Intermediate champion was competing against girls that are in Regional and National squads but managed to hold her own to finish up with 2 places in the top 6.

Bars – 8^th place

Beam – 4^th place (missed out on bronze by 0.3 of a mark)

Floor – 5^th place (missed out on bronze by 0.2 of a mark)

Well done girls you have done the club proud!!!

On Sunday 30^th March 3 of our elite squad gymnasts competed at the Devon Open and Intermediate championships in Plymouth. This is the most prestigious level of competition within Devon and is for the elite gymnasts.

The competition is split in to 2 levels, Open and Intermediates. The rules are based on the National Age group rules with the Under 9’s competing at level 4 the under 11’s at level 3 and the Under 13’s + on full FIG (Olympic rules). All 3 girls fought off stiff competition to all come away with medals.

This year the open and intermediate competition was used as a qualifier for the Devon apparatus finals to be held on Saturday 10^th May, all 3 gymnasts qualified for at least 2 finals each.

8 year old Jessica Sanders – Wyatt was the U/9 Devon open champion and qualified for the Vault, bars, beam and floor apparatus finals. She was 1^st on floor, 2^nd on beam and vault, 5^th on bars. Jess has moved up two levels from last year after winning the U/9 Devon novice championships.

9 year old Josie Cox was the Devon U/9 intermediate bronze medallist and also qualified for the Vault, bars, beam and floor apparatus finals. She was 1^st on vault, 3^rd on floor and bars, 4^th on beam. Josie has also moved up two levels from last year and has improved considerably since.

11 year old Amy Washbrook was the Devon Intermediate U/13 champion. Amy qualified for the beam and floor apparatus finals. She was also 2^nd on floor, 4^th on beam and 9^th on Bars. Amy has moved up an age group from last year and was competing against 13 year olds. For places in the apparatus finals she was competing against 16 girls which included girls that are in South West and National squads.

On Saturday 1st March 2008 one of our elite squad gymnasts went up to Wiltshire to compete and take her elite compulsory grade 4. This grade is the first step on the pathway to the British championships the most prestigious competition in the gymnastics calendar. Jessica Sanders - Wyatt competed superbly against the best 8 and 9 year olds in the South west to comfortably pass her grade.

She had a clean competition and missed out on being selected to represent the South West at the National finals by just 0.8 of a mark. Jess will go on to take her elite compulsory 3 grade next year. Well done Jess you did extremely well we are all very proud of you!!

In the League, South Devon gymnasts were placed:
   - Amy Washbrook 3rd U/8
   - Laura Shears 5th in both rounds U/9
   - Gemma Tooze 5th and 6th U/11

The Devon Novice Championships saw not only Laura’s win but Amy Washbrook 5th U/8

and Gemma Tooze 6th U/11.

In the Devon Open Championships Maddy Ayres came 4th in her first open event.