Aspiring Gymsports Club hosted the Southern Championships this past weekend (July 26-27) at Paetara Aspiring Central.

There were 180 entries from Christchurch, Waimate, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, Queenstown, and Wānaka, and the event offered the opportunity to see some of the best Southern gymnasts competing right here in Wānaka.

“The new home at Paetara Aspiring Central was well received and we had many comments on how it was such a fantastic facility,” Aspiring Gymsports Club spokesperson Rae Paterson said.

“Working with our partners Kahu Youth and [Queenstown Lakes District Council] we used the whole facility,” Rae said.

The Kahu Youth zone became the judges’ lounge; the cafe and foyer were used for pommel and parallel bars; and the courts were used for warm ups and stretching as well as the prizegiving.

“Local gymnasts did particularly well, having the hometown advantage for the first time,” she said.

The youngest Aspiring team of Step 1 (Addison Oliver, Lilah Reeves, Amelie Moir, Taylor Clark and Evelyn Whalley) finished third overall with the team winning first in bar, and second in vault and floor routine. 

Lilah Reeves came third overall taking home a bronze medal.

The Aspiring Step 2 team (Gracie Kearns, Quinn Cook, Indygo Dawn and Krystal Coll) finished fourth overall, winning vault and placing third in beam and floor. 

Findlay Jones (level 8, Affinity Gymnastic Club Christchurch) on the pommel.

Indygo was third on vault, Quinn was second on beam and Krystal was second in vault and first in floor.

Aspiring Step 3 had two teams, and team 1 (Penny Swan, Immy Williams, Jorja Steel and Harper Julius) came second overall, with first in bar and first in floor. 

Harper came second overall, with first in bar and floor, while Jorja Steel placed third overall (second in bar and third in beam).

Team 2 (Aishna Mallik, Adeline Whalley, Emilia Wick and Eden Booth from Dunedin) placed third overall with third in vault and in beam. Adeline was third overall with second in bar and third in beam. 

For National Step 5 the Aspiring team of Lara Beams, Keira Lam, Mea Allison and Stella Kearns placed fourth with second in vault and third in beam. Stella was first in beam and Mea was second in bar and third in beam.

In the men’s fields, Spencer Bunbury in his first competition placed third overall in MAG Level 3, placing second in pommel/vault and third in rings, floor, high bar, and parallel bars.

Aspiring’s Charlie Nisbet (MAG level 5) placed first overall, beating his skilled Christchurch rival Miguel for the first time. Charlie was first in pommel, parallel bars and vault, and second in floor, rings, and high bar.

Rae said the event required “a huge team effort” by all club members and a core group of Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College students who volunteered hours for both the year 8 William Pike Challenge and Students in the Community. 

“Thank you to everyone who helped make this competition a great success,” she said.

PHOTOS: Supplied