TALENTED gymnasts from Acrobay are celebrating after earning a 12th successive national team cup as a dozen of their number became Scottish champions.
Members of the Rosyth-based club dazzled judges at the 2024 Acrobatic Championship with a series of star performances, and those who have struck gold will go on to compete at the NDP British Finals, in Stoke-on-Trent, later this month.
Grade one pair, Hannah Jurkiewicz and Anna Thompson, were joined on the top step of the podium by Rebecca Rippin and Sara Ksiazkiewicz (grade two); Ollie Mitchell and Michaela Cuddy (grade two mixed); Julia Paterson, Freya Brown and Phoebe Dunlop (grade two; Scarlett Anderson and Luna Stevenson (grade three); Jacob Myles and Jessie Brown (grade three); Nosa Idehen and Ivy Assamoua (youth women's pair); Dylan Wilson and Brodey Smith (youth mixed pair); Kayla Ballantyne and Isla Paton (grade five); and Poppy Pain, Rosa Morrison and Ruby Melville (IDP1).
Suzanne Fraser, Acrobay's head coach, enthused: "It was an incredible weekend for Team Acrobay.
"The Scottish final is the biggest one in our national calendar. Coaches have been adding difficulty and choreography to routines all season leading up to this competition so each performance can score maximum points.
"In a sport where the slightest wobble or a pointed toe can win or lose a podium place, it’s all to play for. And let’s not forget the part nerves play for athletes who are as young as six-years-old.
So, to see so many of our gymnasts take home so many gold medals felt like a triumph, and winning the team trophy was the icing on the cake."
While other partnerships may change and learn new routines for next season, those who qualified for the British Finals now face tough extra training to ensure they achieve peak performance levels.
"People are wowed to see the incredible moves our gymnasts achieve and it takes a lot of hard work, tough training and personal sacrifice to get to that level," Suzanne continued.
"Seeing their accomplishments recognised makes it all worthwhile and we are extremely proud of every single one."
Acrobay's silver medal winners at the competition will head to Southampton to participate in the Inter-Regional event, including grade one pair Ella Brown and Holly Schoonderbeek; Eilidh Grace McMurdo, Ava Wakeham and Chloe Osborne (grade two); Chloe Paterson, Layla Hyslop and Megan Williams (grade three); Ruby Cunningham, Poppy Green and Freya Walker (youth); and Caitlin MacKinnon and Myla Love (12-18 years).
Bronze medals were claimed by Gracie Taylor and Ava Penman (grade one); Freya Todd and Sandie Macneil (grade two); Reise Nicholson, Remi Griffiths and Lucy Millar (grade two); Abbie Innes and Norah Assamoua (grade three); Alanna Hynd, Hannah Avery and Emily Drysdale (grade three); Malin Begg and Zofia Kossak (grade four); Lainey Mckilligan, Orlan Connolly and Eva Rose Courtney (youth); Emily Healy, Eilidh Park and Amelie Belford (grade five); Kamia Denicka, Skye Archibald and Roxie Kemp (11-16 years); and Hannah Johnston, Katie Hendry and Belle Temple (12-18 years).
Also placing at the competition were Cali Gibson, Poppy Campbell and Adara Norris (grade two, fourth); Ellie Murray and Alexa Arnott (grade three, fifth); Alysia Pearson, Mia O'Donnell and Fallon Farrell (grade three, fifth); Aimee Osbourne, Grace Cunningham and Erin Scally (grade three, sixth); Jessica Gribbons and Leona Williamson (grade four, seventh); Lily Joyce and Rowan Williams (grade four, eighth); Neave Burns, Zofia Jurkiewicz and Lucy Murray (grade four, fifth); Charlotte Ballantyne, Rebecca Wilson and Lola Peacock (grade four, seventh); Lillie MacKean, Elise Joyce and Clara Joyce (youth, fourth); Youth pair Georgia Haddow and Alana McClymont (youth, fourth); and Neive Sinclair and Lauren Whitfield (youth, tenth).
To top off another successful season, Acrobay’s Fig gymnasts competed at the Scottish Championships for the first time, and won two golds.
Lily McHale, Imara Beattie and Khloe Cameron were winners in the Fig 11-16 years category, whilst Emma Nelson, Scarlett Haldane and Ella Gracie were successful in the 13-19 group.
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