European bronze joy for gymnasts

Two gymnasts from Deerness Gymnastics Academy have become the club’s first female acrobats to win a senior all-round competition medal on the international stage.

Abbi Greaves, 15, from Ushaw Moor and Chelsea Fisher, 19, competed in the Women’s Pair at the 2015 Senior European Championships and won bronze in the all-around competition, behind Belarus (silver) and Russia (gold).

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/community/european-bronze-joy-for-gymnasts-1-7514246

Gymnasts bidding for Euro glory – Sunderland Echo

Six gymnasts from a Durham club are representing Britain in the Acrobatic European Championships in Germany.

The gymnasts are from Deerness Gymnastics Academy in Ushaw Moor.

Nathan Brady, Ryan Dury, Michael Gill and Finn Gavin will compete in the 12-18 Men’s Group. Although gold medallists in the world championships last year, this is a new line-up, with Ryan joining the team for his first international competition. The four are the current British champions.

Chelsea Fisher and Abbi Greaves will compete in the Senior Women’s Pair for the first time in an international competition after moving up from the age group category following their gold medal success at the World Championships in 2014. They are also current British champions.

Source: Gymnasts bidding for Euro glory – Sunderland Echo

Durham Coach Wins National Award from British Gymnastics | Bdaily Business News

A gymnastics coach from County Durham has been named as the National Coach of the Year by British Gymnastics this week at the 6th British Gymnastics National Awards ceremony.

The award for ‘Outstanding Coach of the Year” was awarded to Stuart Thompson, of Deerness Gymnastics Academy. This award recognises an individual from the British Gymnastics High Performance programmes who has produced outstanding International results through their athletes during 2014.

The British Gymnastics National Awards celebrated the achievements of some the most inspirational people in the gymnastics community at Manchester Cathedral in a glittering award ceremony where gymnasts and coaches from across the country, from Olympic medal winners to grassroots volunteers, gathered to see who had been crowned the best in the sport this year.

Stuart Thompson, 40, from Durham is a high performance coach in acrobatic gymnastics and last year returned from the world age group championships with all of his eight gymnasts winning Gold. He has previously coached senior world champions and world games silver medallists.

“It’s a real honour to receive this award,” said Stuart Thompson. “As there are so many dedicated coaches involved in gymnastics working tirelessly to develop and mentor their gymnast’s right across the country.

“I am very fortunate to be able to have a career in a sport that I love and I also have to thank my colleagues at Deerness Gymnastics Academy, the gymnasts and their parents for all of their hard work and commitment too. Without that the club wouldn’t gain the success that it does on a national and international stage.”

Following success as a gymnast in his own right, winning a bronze medal at the World Games in a men’s four in acrobatic gymnastics he turned to coaching in 1998 at what has now become Deerness Gymnastics Academy. Over the past 17 years Stuart has coached many British, European and World Champions at the club in Ushaw Moor, County Durham. He is also the coach and choreographer for Acropolis, the entertainment group that won Lets Gets Gold on ITV1 in 2012.

From outstanding elite gymnasts proudly taking medals on the world stage to the passionate workforce and volunteers dedicated to delivering the sport, the national awards ceremony was a fantastic celebration of gymnastics.

“Stuart has been involved in acrobatic gymnastics since he was a teenager, first as a international gymnast and then dedicating himself to becoming one of the top coaches in the country,” said Karl Wharton, director of Deerness Gymnastics Academy.

“It takes a lot of time, dedication and commitment to become a high performance coach and then to go on and win multiple medals on the world stage is no mean feat. The whole club is very proud of Stuart and I hope this award will inspire many of our gymnasts and young coaches to stay in the sport and together we hope the club will go on to be even more successful in the future.”

Over the past few years Deerness Gymnastics Academy has gone from strength to strength. Attracting gymnasts from right across the region, the club located in Ushaw Moor, County Durham provides many young people throughout Durham and the north east with the opportunity to improve their health and physical development, promote social and emotional skills as well as boost their confidence.

As a volunteer-led club, it has responsibility not only for coaching, training and the development of gymnasts, but also the training facility itself, Deerness Gymnastics Academy has maintained its status as one of the most successful clubs in Great Britain and continues to be recognised on the international scene as one of the top clubs in the world, with over 100 international gymnasts with more than eighty World and European medallists, including 15 World and European Champions in its roll of honour.

Gymnastics coaching in acrobatics, tumbling and trampolining is available to all ages from novice to elite level. Recreational classes are available for children from 3 years and Baby gym sessions take place on weekdays..

To find out more call: 0191 373 9413, email: contact@deernessgymnastics.org.uk or visit www.deernessgymnastics.org.uk follow on twitter @deernessga or find on Facebook

Source: Durham Coach Wins National Award from British Gymnastics | Bdaily Business News

Gymnasts vie for national honours – Sunderland Echo

Sixteen gymnasts from Deerness Gymnastics Academy are off to the British Championships tomorrow.

Five gymnasts from the club in Ushaw Moor, Durham, are already reigning British Champions, while nine of the remaining 11 gymnasts are entering the championships for the first time.

Senior women’s pair Chelsea Fisher and Abbi Greaves will compete as senior competitors for the first time after moving up from the age group category following their gold medal success at the World Championships in 2014. They are the reigning British Champions;

In the 12-18 women’s group, Caitlin Owston, Amelia Palmer and Bethany MacDougall are competing together for the first time.

Also new to the competion are the 12-18 Women’s Pair Vicky Gargan and Drew Armstrong.

In the 12-18 Men’s Group Nathan Brady, Michael Gill and Finn Gavin were gold medallists in the world championships last year and are current British Champions, but this is a new line-up, with Ryan Dury joining them.

via Gymnasts vie for national honours – Sunderland Echo.

Gymnastic gem gearing up for two big competitions – Northumberland Gazette

A talented gymnast from Felton is relishing the prospect of competing at two major events, which will pit him against national and international acrobats.

Finn Gavin will be heading to the British Championships in Liverpool this weekend, before representing Great Britain in the Acrobatic European Championships in Germany in September.

The 13-year-old, who trains at Durham’s Deerness Gymnastics Academy, will be competing in the 12-18 age group for men’s four.

His team will consist of fellow Deerness members Michael Gill, 17, from Ponteland, Nathan Brady, 17, from Durham, and Ryan Dury, 18, of Teesside, for both events.

Last year, Gavin, Gill and Brady won both the British Championship and Word Championship in the 11-16 age group. Dury is a new team member.

Finn says he is looking forward to the challenges of both events.

via Gymnastic gem gearing up for two big competitions – Northumberland Gazette.

GYMNASTICS: Deerness tumblers target more success as 2015 gets into full swing (From The Northern Echo)

DEERNESS Gymnastics Academy is hoping to get 2015 off to a flying start as its young tumblers enter the Regional NDP (National Development Program) Championships this weekend.

The regional championships are being held in Hartlepool tomorrow when 19 tumblers from Deerness will compete against other tumblers from the region to compete to represent the region at national level.

The 19 Deerness Gymnastics Academy gymnasts are: Tia Barratt, Mya Malthouse, Ava Bayles, Tom Reid, Olivia Bell, Samantha Tull, Sophie Smith, Beth Watson, Abigail Raine, Daniel Wilkinson, Tia Simpson, Lorna McAllister, Quinn Young, Solomon Cornwell, Lewis Westwood, Megan Young, Eve Coates, Cleo Watson and Amy Jeff.

In total 168 gymnasts from clubs right across the North-East will thrill and entertain with their skills as they contend for medals in the different categories and the opportunity to proceed to the National NDP semi-finals.

The top two in each category will make it through to the semi-finals in Peterborough in May and Sheffield in June, hoping to then qualify for the national finals.

via GYMNASTICS: Deerness tumblers target more success as 2015 gets into full swing (From The Northern Echo).

Karl Wharton named Local Hero of the Year for his tireless work supporting young gymnasts

 

THE guiding light behind one of the North-East’s most successful gymnastics clubs was crowned 2014 Local Hero by sporting legend Steve Cram tonight (Thursday).

The 15th annual Northern Echo Local Heroes award saw sports stars, enthusiasts and administrators from across the North-East honoured at Darlington’s Dolphin Centre.

More than 800 people, including VIP guests such as former Sunderland ace Kevin Ball and athlete Allison Curbishley, saw Karl Wharton named Local Hero of the Year for his tireless work supporting young gymnasts.

The 51-year-old, from Ushaw Moor, founded the Deerness Gymnastics Academy and has dedicated 25 years of his life to helping youngsters and growing his club into one of the most successful sporting institutions in the region.

Mr Wharton has helped hundreds of gymnasts achieve sporting success, with more than 100 of his protégés representing Great Britain, over 80 winning medals and seven crowned as either European or world champions.

The university lecturer also served on the gymnastic’s world governing body and oversees the day-to-day running of the academy in his spare time.

Northern Echo editor and compere Peter Barron said: “In choosing a winner, the judges had an unenviable task.

“It was the closest call in the 15-year history of these awards, but the casting vote went to someone who epitomises what these awards are all about.

“It is someone who has invested a great deal of precious time into helping others excel at sport.

“It is someone who started from humble beginnings and created something very special – one of the leading grass roots sports organisations, not just in the North but the country.”

Mr Wharton also picked up the Sir Bobby Robson Leading Light Award and was awarded £5,000 by the County Durham Community Foundation in recognition of his dedication.

via From one sporting hero to another – Steve Cram honours Durham gymnast named 2014’s Local Hero of the Year (From The Northern Echo).

Bronze Medal for New Deerness Partnership

Two Deerness gymnasts have returned from a national British Gymnastics competition with their first bronze medal in the women’s pair combination.

Victoria Gargan, age 17, from High Shincliffe and Drew Armstrong, age 13 from Consett competed in the 12-18 women’s pair section, where they not only made it to the final but took third place winning the bronze medal.

Last year in the national development programme finals Victoria Gargan won a gold medal and Drew won a bronze medals in separate combinations. However this is the first time they have competed together at this level.

Katerina Dubov, age 14, from Chester-le-Street and Sydney Etherington, age 10, from School Aycliffe also competed and in a 18-strong field they qualified for the final and placed sixth. Earlier this year Katerina & Sydney won a silver medal when competing together in a regional competition.

“This was a great opportunity for some of our developing gymnasts to compete against the best in the country and gain experience in a competition environment. I am really proud of them and it’s great to see the hard work that they put into training being rewarded with opportunities at a national level,” said Katie Lawton, Deerness Gymnastics Academy. “These tournaments are a great way of developing gymnastic skills and strengths and will hopefully inspire and encourage more people to get involved with the club.”

via Bronze Medal for New Deerness Partnership.

New Deerness Partnerships Head to National Gymnastics Competition

Two new developing partnerships of young gymnasts are heading off to a national acrobatic gymnastic competition this weekend (15 & 16 Nov) when four Deerness Gymnastics Academy gymnasts will be competing in the British Gymnastics ‘Pat Wade Classic’ at Stoke on Trent.

The two womens pairs are:

– Victoria Gargan, age 17, from High Shincliffe and Drew Armstrong, age 13 from Consett who will be competing in the 12-18 women’s pair section; and

– Katerina Dubov, age 14, from Chester-le-Street and Sydney Etherington, age 10, from School Aycliffe who will be competing in the 11-16 women’s pair section.

via New Deerness Partnerships Head to National Gymnastics Competition.

Cheerleading Classes at Deerness Gymnastics Academy

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