Awards come tumbling down for North East gymnasts

Nearly 300 gymnasts, coaches and tumblers gathered at Durham’s Ramside Hall Hotel to see the tumblers recognised for their hard work.

Jenny Dawes, Tumbling National Coach for British Gymnastics and a former British Champion, presented the awards at the event hosted by Glen Wharton, head of tumbling at Deerness Gymnastics Academy.

During 2015, Deerness Tumblers won three silver medals at the World Championships, had 20 people selected for the national squad, a British Champion, two national champions at development level, and two coaches Mark Nesbitt and Glen Wharton represented Great Britain at the Loule Cup at the World Championships.

Awards included: Rachel Davies who won Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award for her success at the World Championships, winning a team silver medal and coming fifth in the individual final in her first year as a senior competitor; Matilda Hamilton won the Perseverance of the Year Award after competing in a World Championship final. She finished 7th in the World Championships. Mary Young and Lucy Aston, both aged nine, each received a Special Award for being the two youngest tumblers ever to represent Great Britain after receiving call-ups to the National Squad in 2015. The three Most Memorable Performances of the Year were named as James Richardson’s gold medal in the Loule Cup, Daisy Gasgoine Allen in the Deerness Competition and Shanice Davidson’s comeback from injury to win silver at the World Age Group Championships. Lewis Westwood received the Determination of the Year Award following his hard work to move from Development level to Age Group and The Tumblers’ Tumbler of the Year, an awared voted for by club members, went to Rachel Davies and Matilda Hamilton.

The final award of the evening for the Tumbler of the Year went to Georgia Clayton who in 2015 won the Spring Qualifier event, became British Champion (for the third year running) and took the silver medal at the World Age Group Championships.

“A big congratulations to all of our winners this year. There were some outstanding performances in 2015 which I hope will continue to inspire everyone next year,” said Glen.