IN the North Devon Gymnastics competition last year, six gymnasts from Budehaven represented the school.

This year, 15 intrepid gymnasts took to the sprung floor and vaulting runway to represent Budehaven.

Budehaven entered two teams this year in the novice section in the U13 age group and one intermediate team at U13 and one intermediate team at U15. For some of the gymnasts, this was the first major event they had competed in and, for some, the lunchtime gym club was the only preparation they had for this competition!

All the gymnasts had to perform on the vault, and the novice gymnasts had a compulsory routine to perform to the judges, whilst the intermediate gymnasts had to perform a floor routine to music, up to a minute long, having selected the moves to put into their routine.

Successes included the novice teams of Tia Van Der Linden, Zoe Bluett and Tilly Dumbleton winning bronze in the U13 novice team competition, with the second novice team of Sophie, Trinity and Poppy coming 6th out of 14 teams. Notable individual performances include Sophie Shute being 4th overall individually out of 50 gymnasts, with Tia, Zoe and Tilly placed in the top 20.

Forty-one gymnasts competed at the U13 Intermediate level, 51 at the U15 Intermediate level, Kylie was placed 12th individually in the U15 age group.

The school gymnastics club will be starting up again in September with preparations for the North Devon Gymnastics competition 2017.

A school spokesperson said: “It was a very busy, long day, in which a lot of gymnasts were showcasing their talents and skills in this sport.

“A huge well done and congratulations to the following gymnasts: Tia Van Der Linden, Poppy Jennings, Sophie Shute, Zoe Bluett, Trinity Hart and Tilly Dumbleton (U13 Novice) Daisy Browning, Chloe and Jade Luxton and Raily Graham (U13 Intermediate) Kylie Piper, Charlotte Gamble, Ellie O’Neill and Jasmine Wallis (U15 Intermediate).

“Well done to all those who have been attending the gymnastics club at school with Ms Armstrong and Mrs Gifford and those who were able to compete this year. Special thanks also to Mrs Luxton and Mrs Piper for their assistance during the course of the competition.”