The Norfolk Academy
of Gymnastics
Unit 10
Rookery Business Park
Silver Street
Besthorpe
Attleborough
NR17 2LD
T: 01953 453309
Email: info@tnag.co.uk
TNAG GO OUT IN STYLE FOR 2009 AT THE REGIONAL CHAMPS
30/11/2009
REGIONAL FIG, CHALLENGE AND TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
The finale to the busy regional competition season took place at Ipswich on 28 November with the regional championships for teams and individuals at FIG and Challenge level. The field was disappointingly thin with only three full teams and the format a little complex – only gymnasts aged 12 and older were eligible for individual awards, levels gymnast aged 12 and under were able to make up the team for their club but could not win medals for themselves. TNAG’s team contained only one gymnast eligible for individual honours – Summer-Jade Kenzitt who competed at the Challenge level for espoirs (12-13 years), this was the most hotly contested category. The other team members, Emily Crowe, Polina Polyakova (both 11) and Bethany Harmer (at 9, the youngest gymnast on show) were there to help their team only.
With Sapphire having four top quality gymnasts on show there was little doubt that they would storm to gold. The team battle was for the silvers between TNAG and Bury Spectrum, who had far more experience on their team. TNAG started well on vault with four well landed tsukaharas, and Emily’s piked tsuk gaining the top vault score of the whole day at 12.7, and they never looked back. Bars and beam went well, if not brilliantly, with a couple of falls from beam but Summer and Emily solid and keeping the scores building well. The team performance on floor was excellent – highlighted by Bethany’s 11.65 for a routine which gave little away and concluded with a 1 ½ twisting back somersault – a very big skill for a very little girl, and then came the final floor routine of the day from Emily Crowe. Emily is building a reputation for herself as a floor worker to be reckoned with, not only within her own age group but at any level. Her entertaining routine got the crowd involved and her tumbling was exquisite – a high and precise double tuck to start and an equally good 2 ½ twist to finish (the only D value dismount of the event). She received 13.35, a fantastic score and the highest of the day.
TNAG were awarded the team silver medals – ten marks clear of Bury in third and having narrowly beaten Sapphire on vault and floor. All of the team members contributed and this was truly a team success. Although not eligible for individual awards, Emily’s massive all around total of 47.45 was the second highest of the day and a personal best FIG score for her which sets her up very well for next year when she moves to this level permanently.
Apparatus medals were awarded first in the individual competitions and Summer was delighted to take two gold medals – on bars and floor in her category. This gave us the inkling that she may be in with a shot of an all around medal. As bronze and silver were announced with high scores we thought Summer may just have missed out but she was announced as the regional Challenge champion with her best ever FIG score of 42.75 to take her third gold of the day. Summer has worked incredibly hard all year, has a fantastic disposition in training and is undoubtedly one of the nicest girls in the club. We are all hugely proud of her achievements – well done Summer and the team!
