For STAGS gymnasts in teams, representing Crispin School and the South West Region, at under 13 & under 16 level in these National Finals, it was touch and go as to whether the competition would go ahead or not. It was right at the start of the first outbreaks of the Coronavirus cases in the UK. So once there, we were very conscious that to stay safe and protect others we needed to have much stricter rules than usual. So, curbing the urge for snacking and practising diligent hand washing, at every turn, were the orders of the day!
During the competition, we were treated to some lovely performances from gymnasts showing very high standards of technical excellence. State schools are now in the minority at these events and compared with most of the other schools, we do suffer from our lack of similar training opportunities in time, facilities and equipment. Nevertheless, STAGS girls did really well, upping their performances from those at the Regional Finals and being rewarded with better marks and highers placings for the South West in these Finals.
The competition started with individual performances on floor and vault where the highest proportion of marks towards the teams' scores were on offer. The U16s were visibly showing improvement on their previous year's performance and the U13s were also doing well, showing a calmness and maturity beyond their years for their first National Finals, but would this show in the results? We cannot compete with the best schools, but 15th for Crispin, from 18th last year, is better than acceptable.
Later in the day, came the competition for the groups routines section. Traditionally, this is where we climb the ranks in the results table and this year was no exception, 7th in this section for the U16s! This is really all about team work, where individual brilliance takes a back seat to the ability to blend individual performances into a harmonising whole. It also, just happens to be, the section on which STAGS gymnasts enjoy working the most! So the pictures below are a celebration of our gymnasts performing in that section and I am grateful to the parents in the audience, for supplying the video sources for most of them.
Meet the teams! The U13s in the lower rank on the left and the U16s on the right.
The U16 were up first with their floor routine giving an idea of the setting.
And so to the U13s, sporting their commemorative hoodies in this photo.
You have to admire the judges' scrutiny!
This is a particularly good piece of aerial synchronicity from Rylea and Elsie
So, this looks like 'Au revoir' from STAGS for the moment......................
...........and this looks like the last hug for a while! So take care and look after yourselves until we can get back together again!