International Gymnast Online continues its annual tradition of featuring Irish gymnastics on St. Patrick's Day with an interview with rising star Andrew Smith, who hopes his world-class tumbling skills will lead him to a berth at the 2016 Olympic Games.

FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW  CLICK HERE

1st-3rd March 2013, Europa Gymnastics Centre, Kent.

By Andy Hall

Full results click here

The Notts Gymnastics Academy boys put in a fantastic effort at the 2013 English Championships, showing off a brand new kit and a lot of style.  With some new moves and the first competition of the year, we had a few wobbles but still walked away happy with some great experiences and a superb warm up to the British Championships later in the year.

Boys

Seniors

Sam Hunter. Josh Avalone

Josh Avalone in the Senior B category had a fantastic pommel, and enjoyed being back on the competition floor after over a year out. Sam Hunter in the Senior A category hit hard after a few injuries in the year to grab 6th All Around, and hit the 3rd highest vault score in the category.  A strong floor to finish allowed Sam to walk away with a strong start to the competition year under his belt.

With Notts the only club in Great Britain to have both male and female senior gymnasts in the British National Squad, we set a great taste of what the future will hold and the 2013 competition year.  A big thank you to all the coaches and parents involved in creating such a fantastic atmosphere and to their dedication to the gymnasts.

East Midlands Gymnastic Regional Awards

23rd February 2013

Notts had a very successful evening at the Jury's Inn in Derby, winning over 50% of the awards. Congratulations to everyone!

Nominations and Winners (highlighted in Gold)

Small Club of the Year: Long Eaton Sports Acro

Special Recognition Awards

Will Trood, Andy Smith (Notts), Luke Pearce (Notts), Rebecca Purcell, Niamh Rippin (Notts), Becky Downie (Notts),Katy Bramley (Notts), Ellie Downie (Notts), James Higgins, Steve Walsh, Penny Mitchell, Amanda Harris

Mother & daughter, Val & Jordan Lipton

There cannot be many events where the youngest budding athlete can perform alongside their world class colleagues, but that was exactly what was in evidence at Sunday's 2012 Notts Gymnastics Academy Christmas Display.

The audience in the packed gym at the Rushcliffe Leisure Centre saw elite gymnasts and the some of the youngest developing talent.  Notts gymnasts Niamh Rippin, fresh from competing at the 2012 Glasgow World Cup, and Ellie Downie, junior GB team member, demonstrated their impressive vaulting skills and floor routines, whilst the youngest members of this thriving club got the chance to show their potential.  The mens artistic sense of fun shone through as the elite men performed wearing tutu's and the cheerleaders energetic and acro's precision routines wowed the crowd.

This is of course typical of the environment in which the young gymnasts train, where they able to learn from, support and encourage each other, and aspire to represent their country at what they love to do.

Head Coach of the Academy, Claire Starkey reflected, "I am very pleased the day came together so well, for over 15 years I have planned Christmas displays but non as big as this. I was worried that we might be taking on too much, but the parents, helpers and gymnasts were amazing. Everybody pulled together, everybody supported each other and I'm so excited about the future of Notts Academy, this is the start of a new chapter of harmony."

Mark Shardlow with daughter Immie

"Many thanks for making us so welcome yesterday.  We thought it was a terrific display.  Really impressive all round. 

Best wishes to everyone involved for Christmas and the New Year."

Mark Shardlow, BBC East Midlands

Girls E2 Display

Margaret Frogson and husband David

"Thank you for inviting David and myself to your display. We were very impressed by the standard of the performance and thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon. The homemade cakes were fantastic! Happy Christmas to you all."

Margaret Frogson, Windblowers/Kidsophonic

Men's hilarious tutu display

Nicola & Andrew Pennill

"The spirit of cooperation between gymnasts, their families and coaches was very much in evidence.  Clearly this is a thriving club which is producing some of the best young gymnasts in the country.  What was also clear from Sunday's fantastic and varied display is that there are many young gymnasts coming through the club, and the recipe for success is set to continue."

Nicola Pennill, Nottingham Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Chair

Ellie Downie on floor

Notts Gymnastics Academy also welcomed the Mayor of Rushcliffe and his wife, who thoroughly enjoyed show, along with head teacher from Rushcliffe school Mr. Phil Crompton, pictured with Notts gymnast and student Nicole Pavier and travelling from Birmingham, Megan Parker's primary school teacher. Graeme Myring also attended with his wife, as a member of the Academy Board. Mike Pierrepont and his wife from Woo Clothing also attended.

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The photos will be available until 31/1/13

Andrew Smith is a Notts gymnast but competes internationally for Ireland. Read Full Twists interview with him.

Earlier this year Ireland’s 21 year old Andrew Smith burst onto the scene in the Senior division, ranking 4th place overall in the World Cup Floor standings behind 2010 World and 2012 European Floor Champion Eleftherios Kosmidis, Tomasz Markovic (2nd) and Tomas Sepulveda Gonzalez (3rd). He began competing internationally for Ireland in March at the Cottbus Cup in Germany. He has now successfully competed in all of the World Cup series events, making four finals to finish in the top 8 of each, competing amongst some of the worlds best gymnasts including World, European and Olympic finalists and medalists.

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