Gymnasts excel at first competition
The event started off with the smallest club members and was concluded with the graceful performances and routines of the older and more experienced gymnasts.
Dressed in comfortable clothes or sparkly leotards and armed with big smiles, gymnasts of the Hazyview Gymnastics Club worked their hardest to impress the judges on Saturday at their first club competition of the year.
The Kiepersol Farmers’ Hall was packed with equipment like the uneven bars, balance beam, trampoline and several floor mats and a group of 42 gymnasts aged three to 17 had the chance to show off their skills.
The event started off with the smallest club members and was concluded with the graceful performances and routines of the older and more experienced gymnasts.
Parents clapped and cheered as the youngest children balanced, jumped and swung on the different apparatus.
Club owner Lynne Wallace says they teach the young children discipline and need a lot of patience to work with the busy little ones.
“They enjoyed it so much and they were very good with the apparatus. Skukuza’s group don’t have apparatus but they did well.”
Every gymnast received a participation medal to encourage them to do so again. In every level there were also gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to the top-three performers.
In level 1 and higher, the girls perform a series of moves on four different apparatus – the balance beam, uneven bars, floor and vaults. They are evaluated and given a mark out of 10 for each.
The top three performers in each apparatus received a ribbon, with the top three of the group receiving medals.
The number of apparatus for boys increases as they go higher up in level. Level 1 to 3 participate in floor, parallel bars, uneven bars and vaults. David Dorfling, a level-4 gymnast, took part in rings, mushroom and the high bars, as well as the aforementioned apparatuses. This means that the boys need even more self-discipline and extra strength. They are also awarded a mark out of 10.
The competition was held to introduce gymnasts and their parents to the formalities of such events.
To aid parents and the youngest group of gymnasts when practising at home, a “report card” with pictures illustrating the different moves were also handed out.
The coaches were very proud of every gymnast who participated and thanked all the parents for their support and leaving the children in their hands. The club was started by Amanda de Lange six years ago and taken over a year ago by Wallace. She has been teaching gymnastics for five years and says she’s learnt from the best. She assisted Sarah Dorfling, who is also a certified coach.
From the next school term, she will teach gymnastics at several preschools in the area.
Those interested in the sport are welcome to contact her for a demo class.
Enquiries: Lynn Wallace on 076-047-5600 or hzygymnastics15@hotmail.com
