Honiton Gymnastics Club’s annual club competition was host to almost 100 gymnasts at the weekend, with beginner and seasoned gymnasts showing their skills for Honiton Mayor Vernon Whitlock.

Despite spectacular performances from the club’s international performers, it was the tiny tots that stole the show

Out of the 98 gymnasts that competed on the day, 22 participated in the Gym Crazy Kids floor and vault competition for children aged between three and seven years old. Taking the day’s top honours were Rebecca Munday and Johnny Long. Rebecca took the group 1 title with a score of 15.95 and Johnny took the group 2 honours with a score of 16.65. He was closely followed by Jessica Downs who was just 0.05 behind.

Alison Tutcher, who leads the Club’s Recreational Group, said: “It was a proud moment not only for the children’s parents but also for the coaches, as most of our young gymnasts participated in their first ever competition. We witnessed an outstanding amount of raw talent and I don’t think it will be long before some of them are making their way up through the ranks.

It’s the biggest club competition that Honiton Gym Club has held in its 27-year history, and the flourishing group of young gymnasts is breathing further life into the club, which has trained national and international medal winners over the past 12 months. It was a particular honour for the children to receive their medals from Mayor Whitlock.

In addition to the Gym Crazy Kids competitors, the vast talent of the rest of the club was on show, with victory in the in the recreational acrobatics competition for Erin Blackmore and Bethan Powell, and first places in the recreational floor and vault competitions for William Slater in group 1 and Charlee Dunslow in group 2.

Isla Cloke & Megan Quick won the Club Acro Competition with a score of 15.2; Matthew Simpson & Natalya Pushkarev won the Squad Acro 2 event with a score of 14.9; and Charlotte Hartland, Dannielle Hartland, and Mylisa Jones took the Squad Acro 1 title with a score of 17.6.

Alison added: “Over the past year we’ve re-structured to make more provision for younger children, particularly those aged three to seven. It’s certainly proved popular and we’ve now got an increasing number of boys in the group, with about a fifty-fifty boy/girl split. Our enthusiastic tiny tots will be the champions of the future, but for now we just concentrate on learning shapes, teaching the fundamentals and providing fun in a disciplined environment.”

Mayor Whitlock also officially opened Honiton Gym Club’s new ‘tumble track’ – a �5,000 piece of equipment that helps beginner and elite gymnasts learn gymnastic elements safely and effectively. The club raised all funds for the kit itself by hosting competitions, litter picking at concerts, selling raffle tickets, applying for grants, and bag packing at supermarkets.

Anyone wishing to find out more about Gym Crazy Kids, Recreational Gymnastics or Competition Acrobatics at Honiton Gym Club should visit www.honitongymclub.org or call Helen Nayler on 07967 835947.