Four members of CHB’s Ricochet Trampoline Club are off to compete at the the 2018 New Zealand Gymnastics Nationals as part of the Hawkes Bay/Poverty Bay regional team.

Lachie Kirk, his younger brother Kegan Kirk, 12,  Huntar Allen, 10, and Harvey O’Rourke, 11, have all competed in various competitions around the North Island to gain qualification for the nationals, which will feature trampolining, men’s and women’s gymnastics, aerobics and rhythmic gymnastics  at Baypark Arena in Mt Maunganui from October 3-6.

All four have placed and won medals at qualifying competitions and train twice a week under club coach, Wayne Marsh, who said he was delighted to be taking the boys - all relatively new to the sport - to nationals.

“ They have been  only jumping less than nine months, so to all get to nationals is a huge achievement. The boys all have goals to come away with some medal placings, so watch this space,” Marsh said.

Lachie Kirk, 14, a student at CHB College, is no stranger to the gymnastics nationals. He has competed at the last three competitions in the men’s artistic gymnastics, but this is his first time attending nationals as a trampoline competitor.

He will compete in all three sections in his age group for trampoline and tumbling, and is also the sub- Junior International section for the double mini trampoline.

Younger brother Kegan, 10, who attends Waipukurau Primary, will be excited to attend the nationals after just receiving the all-clear to compete after suffering an ACL injury in March.

He will compete in the 11 to 12-year-old age group for the trampoline and then will join his brother Lachie for the synchronised trampoline section.

His Waipukurau Primary schoolmate, Huntar Allen, 10, is competing in the 11 to 12-year-old age group in the double mini trampoline. Meanwhile Harvey O’Rourke, 11, who attends Havelock North Intermediate, will compete in the 11 to 12-year-old age group for both the double mini trampoline and tumbling.

Article added: Friday 21 September 2018