NI Gymnast Switches to Ezine

Welcome to our first edition of GNI Ezine. We feel that the time has come to abandon our previously hard copy of NI Gymnast and opt instead to send a more professional looking electronic magazine directly to your inbox every month. This will save time and money for GNI and also means you will have access to higher quality colour pictures that we were previously unable to produce by photocopying. Enjoy! (Oh and let us know your opinion)

19 dynamic young members from Northern Ireland headed across Somerset for the Trampolining Summer Training Camp in Strode College. Somerset camp has been running for 13 years now and grows in popularity each year. Training began on Monday 30th July and ended on Friday 3rd August with Synchro Competition and Prize Giving.
This year was the biggest ever camp with 80 young people training with the biggest ever coaching team representing N.I, Wales, North and South england! A fantastic week was had by all (if we can include battling with the squirrels, owls and mating foxes invading sleep patterns in our cosy tents)

Each day was intense with training beginning at 9.00am and finishing at 5.00pm. The days activities included two trampoline sessions one DMT session and one conditioning session. By Friday it was amazing to see how the campers had improved upon skills, taken onboard tips and adapted to new coaching methods to improve their performance. By Friday the exhaustion set in.

To our great delight 5 of the N.Ireland children made it to the Synchro Final at the end of the week, being in the top 8 out of 40 pairs. They were: Kathryn Reid, Hannah Bell, Adrian Craig, Grant o'Neill from Riada and Scarlett O'Brien from Dynamix. Grant O'Neill was placed 2nd overall with his partner and Scarlett O'Brien was placed 1st with her partner.

Now all are safely home and enjoying a few well deserved sound nights sleep.

GNI are so happy to welcome Attracta Creamer on board not only as our new National Children’s Officer but also as Secretary for the Gymnastics for All committee.

Attracta will take over after many years of hard work and dedication from Marie Murphy, to whom we would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere thanks.

There is no doubt Attracta has her work cut out for her, but her energy and sheer dedication to the sport and protecting children should surely see her through.

Attracta has been coaching at Valdez for four years, she is known to be completely devoted to her club and its members and has a ‘child centred and energetic approach’ to coaching.

When asked how she became interested in gymnastics, Attracta told us that it all started in her school days when she joined a local club.

She has a keen interest in a variety of other sports too. Her long distance running achievements are very impressive and include the New York Marathon in 1995.

While living and working in New York, Attracta continued to pursue her interest in gymnastics by volunteering as a parent helper in a pre-school Gymnastics and Movement Education centre.

The fact that her own two children aged 7 and 10 are both keen gymnasts is no coincidence.
Attracta spoke of her persistent hard work and dedication to help her son overcome muscle problems. Gymnastics among other sports and exercise were used to him develop muscle groups and improve co-ordination.
When asked if it actually worked for him, Attracta proudly told us of his admirable athletic ability to knock out a seven minute mile - that says it all really.

Maybe her own personal experience is what makes Attracta so determined to get as many people involved in gymnastics as possible.
‘ Gymnastics for all means Gymnastics for all’, states Attracta. ‘Total Equality. All children and young people should have affordable access to good regulated gymnastics facilities, whatever the reason an individual chooses to participate. For the talented individual I would like to see more clubs be better positioned to ensure that child reaches their highest attainable goal”

Attracta is ready to take on her new role as National Children’s Officer with commitment and enthusiasm.

Region: Northern Ireland Date of competition: 17th November 2007

Venue: Ards Leisure Centre

Organiser: Stuart Harper

This competition is the first round of the National Schools Trampoline Championships. The top three Individuals and the top two teams in each age/gender group will qualify to compete in the Zonal Championships in January. It is run according to the Rules for Schools Competitions for 2006/2007 as prepared by the Schools Working Group of British Gymnastics, which have been adopted by the B.S.G.A.

For More information visit the Trampoline or Competition section of our website

We would like to advise all members that our website is constantly being updated.

The 'forms' section from which some have tried to email us does not seem to have been working. We are in the process of rectifying this but if you have used this method of contacting us and are wondering why we have yet to respond, then you might want to try resending your comments/questions using standard email until we solve this problem.

I would like to draw your attention to the club updates, course and competition calendars, discipline and profile updates, new Child Protection page, quality control barcharts...and much more still to come.