GYMNASTICS - THE annual South West preliminaries were held in Sherborne, Dorset, and a record number of gymnasts from Monarchs Acrobatic Gymnastics Club took part.

THE annual South West preliminaries were held in Sherborne, Dorset, and a record number of gymnasts from Monarchs Acrobatic Gymnastics Club took part, this time representing their schools and looking for a place in the National finals in May. Only those gymnasts gaining first place on the floor and first and second place in the tumbling section have a place in the South West team. There were many well deserved achievements and a total of 17 medals taken home. Conor McKenna won three gold medals in the Under-13 men's pairs, with brother Sean, mixed pair with partner Alice Diamond and in the group competition competing for King Alfred Sports College. Katie Hoskins (Brent Knoll Primary School) had an outstanding tumbling competition with three excellent tumble runs against 34 other girls and finished in first place winning the gold medal overall. All winning gold and therefore going to the national finals are: Under-11s section: Katie Hoskins (Brent Knoll Primary School); Under-12s section:Conor and Sean McKenna (King Alfred Sports College); Conor McKenna and Alice Diamond (King Alfred Sports College); Conor, Sean, Alice, Tallulah Harris, Poppy Broom, Emily Shortland (King Alfred Sports College).Silver medals: Sean McKenna and Jessica Titcombe (King Alfred Sports College). Bronze medals: Jacob Baker and Stephanie Devitt (St Joseph's RC Primary School).The next competition for the club will be the South West Preliminaries of the NDP level A and B also being held in Sherborne and we would like to wish all those competitors well. Anyone interested in joining the club please telephone Monarchs on 01278 720275.