Beaming at new delivery

13 November 2009

GYMNASTS at a Nailsea club have begun following in the footsteps of World Champion sportsmen and women.

Gemini Gymnastic Club has taken delivery of two pieces of apparatus used at the Artistic Gymnastic World Championships, held last month at the O2 Arena in London.

The table vault and competition beam used throughout the competition were delivered to the Blackfriars Road club last week and its members have already begun using them.

Gemini club coach Sarah Houston said: "We have never had a full size beam or table vault so this will really help our gymnasts prepare for competitions.

"All the girls and boys were so excited about using them and I hope that by seeing the equipment being used by professional gymnasts it will inspire them to achieve more."

Before the World Championships took place, a leaflet was sent to gymnastic clubs around the UK to let them know the equipment would be sold off at the end.

Quick to reserved the equipment, Gemini Gymnastic Club bought the two pieces for about £2,500.

At the international competition last month, British gymnast Beth Tweddle won gold for her routine on the floor.

Just a month earlier, she had visited Nailsea to officially open the new base of Gemini Gymnastic Club.

Sarah said: "To see Beth triumph in London was brilliant and I think it has helped to raise the profile of our gym.