A group of 12 local athletes recently travelled to Comox for the Chimo Gymnastics Pajama Party competition, bringing home a considerable amount of hardware for such a small contingent, according to Powell River Gymnastics and Cheer administrator Karyne Bailey.
The event was also the first opportunity many of the young athletes have ever had to compete against other gymnasts.
“We are so very proud of these young girls who are just starting in the program,” said Bailey. “They performed their routines with confidence and pride.”
The Comox event gave the gymnasts the chance to attend an event close to home to test all their skills before heading to the bigger competitions on the Lower Mainland, added Bailey.
The group returned home with three gold, two silver and three bronze medals, along with 29 top-ten placement ribbons.
Two athletes reached the podium in the All Around category, with Olivia Raffin placing second and Hadley Foster placing third in the All Around Junior Olympic level one. Raffin also placed second in floor and third in vault. Foster placed third in beam.
Earning first-place finishes in individual events were Hillary English (level seven) for bars and Cheyenne Choo for vault and floor. English topped the podium for her bars routine, placed top ten in all other events, and sixth all around.
Nine Junior Olympic level one team members attended the meet, achieving an average of two top-ten placements per athlete, said Bailey.
“We are excited that they did so well,” she said. “That sets them up well to continue with the sport and move up to the next level.”
Gabrielle Marshman, level three, achieved 10th place for vault. Trystanna Bailey placed top ten in all four of her events and seventh all around.
Another recent gymnastics competition attended by local athletes was held in Burnaby. Members of Brooks Secondary School gymnastics team competed at the event. The five-person team representing Brooks placed 19th out of 29 teams, according to Brooks teacher/sponsor Ken Holley.
Bailey placed sixth overall in level four, Rachel Peckford came in eighth overall in level four, Katya Senilova placed fourth overall in level five, and Dylan Werner placed first overall in level four.
Senilova and Peckford also received gymnastic scholarship bursaries.
The next event for the Junior Olympic team is the Twisters Invitational, which takes place from April 23 to 25 in Abbotsford.
