Bracknell’s gymnasts are on their way to Europe

Posted onSeptember 12, 2016 by Phillip Lee

It is sometimes said that you cannot mix business with pleasure. However, Bracknell’s MP was able to do that recently when his young daughter accompanied him on a visit to the Bracknell Gymnastics Club.

Whilst his daughter was given a lesson by elite gymnast, and Pride of Bracknell award winner, James Langley, Dr Lee spoke with Dr Peter Tranckle, who helped to found the club in 2006. It currently operates out of the Bracknell leisure centre and has around 130 members, with over 400 others regularly attending classes. It is one of the most respected clubs in Europe is currently home to the British Men’s Team and Junior Women’s Team Gym champions.

It will shortly be sending 12 members to the European Championships (more than any club in the country) and later in the year will be hosting an international competition, with teams coming from across the continent.

All of this success does not come without a lot of effort, and the club boasts four of the six British athletes who are licensed for triple somersaults. It also does not come without financial demands.

Supporting the 12 athletes who will be representing the country at the European Championships will cost around £13,000 only part of which the club has currently been able to cover through sponsorship.

Speaking after the visit, Dr Lee said:

‘I was extremely impressed by the expertise and dedication of the coaching staff and also the sheer athleticism and enthusiasm of the gymnasts themselves. They are a credit to Bracknell and the country, and deserve all the support that we can give them.’

The most important verdict, of course, came from Phillip’s daughter who asked simply as she left ‘When can I come again, Daddy

James Langley, Dr Philip Lee & Peter Tranckle

James Langley, Dr Philip Lee & Peter Tranckle

Kylie passes the torch to James

In September Bracknell GC will launch our new DMT section. We have been exploring the discipline over the last 18 months with James Langley being trained by 6 time world champion and high performance coach - Kylie Walker. Following Kylie's retirement in July and thanks to some successful grants, James Langley has spent the summer training to take over the section. James is now a DMT L4 coach and leads a team of 5 DMT coaches, including some L5s where required.

James will also be taking over Kylie's role as coach for Edgbarrow's DMT squad. We wish James and the DMT squad every success in the future with this exciting new discipline.

6 time world DMT champion Kylie Walker with her protege and successor James Langley.  

6 time world DMT champion Kylie Walker with her protege and successor James Langley.  

Taking the time to say "Thank you"

Bracknell GC has 12 gymnasts hoping to compete at the European Championships in Slovenia. The cost of representing their country at this event would be £900 each. 

The gymnasts have been proactively raising money themselves but this has been accelerated by a few most generous grants and donations…

£500 from Bracknell Town Council

£450 from an anonymous benefactor at the Bracknell Show

£1000 from Paul’s Trust

The 12 gymnasts and Bracknell Gymnastics Club would like to express our heart felt gratitude for this support. More so, its motivating for the gymnasts to feel this backing from the community and value for what they do and what they stand for. 

 

Thank you so much...

Bracknell Dominate with the highest scores at the 2016 BritishTeamGym Championships at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

On the 30th and 31st of July the Liverpool Echo Arena was host to the British TeamGym Championships as part of the week long British Gymnastics Championship Series. The Liverpool Albert Dock was alive with gymnasts from all over the country competing in TeamGym, Rhythmic, Sports Acrobatics and Aerobics.

Bracknell Gymnastics Club had 5 teams qualified for the competition.

The Saturday was the British Championships. Bracknell's Youth Women's team (9-14) came 6th in very competitive section. However, the girls rose to the challenge, even coming in 2nd on the floor programme.

Bracknell's Junior Women came 2nd in 2015 and went into the event as the favourites from qualification. They dominated on all pieces to win the British title for the first time with the highest floor score of the entire event.

The Bracknell Senior Men were the last to compete. Despite some injuries in the lead up to the event they retained their British title with the highest score of the entire event on trampette and joint highest with Reddam Senior Mixed team on Tumble. The event closed with the boys' trampette routine which saw 18 year old Connor Wharram land the UK's first triple piked somersault with half twist in competition.

The Sunday was the challenge event which started with the Micro Teams (3-5 gymnasts on tumble and trampette only). Bracknell's Junior team won the silver in a well contested section against the mightly Scottish team from Forth Valley. Although the Bracknell juniors managed to pip the Scottish on tumble, their trampette was inevitably too strong on this occasion.

The final event of the weekend was the Primary Challenge. The Bracknell Starlings made a good account of themselves, finishing 7th overall but achieving a 4th on floor.

The coaching team of Chris Bennett, Lewis Jones, Claire Wright and James Langley are very pleased with the performances of all of the gymnasts and are looking forward to next year's British Championships.

 

Junior Women's floor

Junior Women's floor