Trampoline triumph for West Sussex youngsters

Young trampolinists from local schools hit the mark in the first qualifying round of the British Schools trampoline championships.

Young trampolinists from local schools hit the mark in the first qualifying round of the British Schools trampoline championships.

The south-eastern regional leg in Uckfield included a small army of local youngsters representing their primary and secondary schools all ready to compete against the best in the region for a place in the southern zonal round.

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Primary school entries came from Barnham, Boxgrove, Downview, Edward Bryant, Jessie Younghusband, Medmerry, Rose Green Juniors, St Mary’s Catholic and St Mary’s CoE.

Older contestants came from Bishop Luffa, Chichester High School for Girls, Felpham Community College and The Regis School.

Most of these youngsters train with the Bognor-based Dragon Flyers Trampoline Club, who provided much of the coaching support on behalf of the schools, alongside staff from Bishop Luffa.

The Dragon Flyers were delighted that seven of their members made it through to the zonal leg and will go on to represent their schools at Medina Leisure Centre on the Isle of Wight on January 23.

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This year, the club filled the medal winners’ podium in the U11 boys’ elite group with Rose Green’s James Porter taking first place. Ben Hauxwell, also from Rose Green snatched the silver trophy from Billy Grubb, a fellow Dragon Flyer from Jessie Younghusband, who marched away with bronze.

In fourth was another Dragon Flyer, Phillipe Newton-Young, representing St Mary’s Catholic Primary.

The Regis School also finished the day with two trophies. Jamie Smith easily took gold in the U13 boys’ elite while the U15 girls’ elite team added a silver trophy, matching last year’s team success with almost the same line-up of Natalie Pullen, Mercedes Hulburd and Kimberley Setchell. Other notable performances, falling short of a medal, came from Naomi Coleman (Felpham Community College) who was sixth in a very strong U15 girls’ novice group and Florence Dempster of Bishop Luffa in the U19 girls’ elite. Florence delivered a terrific voluntary routine for fifth place against some of the country’s top youngsters.

“They all did really well and we are thrilled to have such numbers move into the next round,” said DFTC’s Head Coach Linda O’Leary, who supported the children on the day, along with Kerry Nicholas and Steve Grubb, and assistant coach Emily Hunt. Anyone interested in joining Dragon Flyers Trampoline club can do so via www.dragonflyers-club.co.uk or on 01243 264069.

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