This weekend we had 7 gymnasts competing the grades comp. This means they have to get a certain score to pass, and a certain score to get distinction. The top 6 then qualify to represent the county in finals next month and the 7th and 8th compete as individuals in the finals.
On saturday we had 4 gymnasts competing. First up was beam. In the warm up, Hannah slipped on her full spin and somehow got her legs wrapped around the beam. She fell onto her arm (no-one is quite sure how). Result: Broken and dislocated elbow, a night in hospital, general anesthetic to put it back and an above-elbow cast for 6 weeks.
After that it was a case of keeping the other 3 together while sorting Hannah and the ambulance out. The others were VERY shaken and one very strong contender went on to fall twice on bars. No places and no medals. Not the result we were hoping for!
Then today we had 3 gymnasts competing in 2 levels. We didn't expect Abby to place at all, but she is a real performer. She really went for it to the audience and placed joint 3rd, earning a team place for finals next month.
The final round was the first comp. for the 2 grade 14s. It was a pleasure to watch them compete so cleanly, control their nerves and perform without a single major mistake. Rebecca placed 2nd on Range and conditioning. We knew that the both had done well and were hoping for a team place. As the results were announced back from 8 and got to 3rd we thought they must have just missed out. Another coach said to me 'She must have been so close to 8th place.' When the announcer called Millie's name as the county champion we could not believe it. Her mum and aunties cried and Millie was so shocked and proud she didn't know what to do with herself. She had no expectations - she had just gone out and done her best and didn't expect to win anything or make the team.
Without getting too soppy, it really made me proud of what these gymnasts do, coming in and working so hard when they are so young - and when you can be injured so quickly from sheer bad luck. That is why coaching is so frustrationg, exhausting and rewarding!
On saturday we had 4 gymnasts competing. First up was beam. In the warm up, Hannah slipped on her full spin and somehow got her legs wrapped around the beam. She fell onto her arm (no-one is quite sure how). Result: Broken and dislocated elbow, a night in hospital, general anesthetic to put it back and an above-elbow cast for 6 weeks.
After that it was a case of keeping the other 3 together while sorting Hannah and the ambulance out. The others were VERY shaken and one very strong contender went on to fall twice on bars. No places and no medals. Not the result we were hoping for!
Then today we had 3 gymnasts competing in 2 levels. We didn't expect Abby to place at all, but she is a real performer. She really went for it to the audience and placed joint 3rd, earning a team place for finals next month.
The final round was the first comp. for the 2 grade 14s. It was a pleasure to watch them compete so cleanly, control their nerves and perform without a single major mistake. Rebecca placed 2nd on Range and conditioning. We knew that the both had done well and were hoping for a team place. As the results were announced back from 8 and got to 3rd we thought they must have just missed out. Another coach said to me 'She must have been so close to 8th place.' When the announcer called Millie's name as the county champion we could not believe it. Her mum and aunties cried and Millie was so shocked and proud she didn't know what to do with herself. She had no expectations - she had just gone out and done her best and didn't expect to win anything or make the team.
Without getting too soppy, it really made me proud of what these gymnasts do, coming in and working so hard when they are so young - and when you can be injured so quickly from sheer bad luck. That is why coaching is so frustrationg, exhausting and rewarding!
