Honiton gymnastics duo return home as Junior British Champions

At the same event, the Honiton Grade 5 Men’s Group of Max MacDonald, Max Sharland, Devon Roe-Lavery and Joe Shackleton won gold – claiming the National Development Plan (NDP) title.

“We are very proud of all 17 gymnasts who represented Honiton Gymnastics Club at the weekend,” said coach and board member James Reddy.

“Despite significant breaks in our gymnasts training programmes leading up to the competition – including many testing positive and having to take 10 days off at critical points in their preparation – they all persevered. We are immensely pleased with their attitude and determination, and what a marvelous start to competing again.”

The pandemic meant that, for the first time, the British Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships and National Development Plan finals were held together at Stoke-on-Trent, with partnerships competing just one ‘finals’ routine instead of the usual two or three.

Reece and Sky performed their combined routine, which is a mixture of balance moves (where Sky performs different shaped handstands on Reece’s hands), dynamic elements (where Reece throws and catches Sky when she is performing somersaults) and choreography, which is performed to music.

The men’s group performed a dynamic routine, where the three bases threw (and caught) Max for a variety of different somersaulting and rebound elements.

In addition to the gold-medal winning performances, Honiton gymnasts had the following results:

· Silver: Matthew Beviss and Oscar Felice in 12-19 Men’s Pair

· Silver: Hallie Bennett and Catie Lee in 11-17 Women’s Pair

· 4th: Hollie Mouton and Ella Lane in 11-17 Women’s Pair

· 6th: Megan Wood and Olivia Wotton in 11-17 Women’s Pair

· 9th: Molly Gibson, Evie Roberts and Jess Downs in 11-17 Women’s Group

Gymnasts are now back at Honiton Gymnastics Centre preparing for the next set of events, which include the club’s Christmas Show on 19 December; the Pate Wade Classic international in Stoke on Trent at the end of January; and the 2022 regional prelims in Bristol in March.

Molly Gibson (top) doing a 'croc' on the tepee balance with Evie Roberts and Jess Downs (Image: Honiton Gym Club)

Sky Shute in a Mexican handstand on her acrobatic partner Reece Cutler (Image: Honiton Gym Club)

Max MacDonald (Front) with (from left) Max Sharland, Joe Shackleton and Deveon Roe-Lavery with their gold medals (Image: Honiton Gym Club)

Hallie Bennett (left) and Catie Lee - silver medalists in the 11-17 age category at the British Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships (Image: Honiton Gym Club)

Hallie Bennett is thrown for a straight back somersault by partner Catie Lee (Image: Honiton Gym Club)