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There was a gymnastics club in Hurstpierpoint as early as the 1920's, based
in the Parish Room, which ceased to operate at some time in the thirties.
The current club was formed in January 1980 with just forty junior and infant
aged girls. Since 1980 it has expanded in numbers, developed a wider range
of equipment and now caters for over three hundred gymnasts, both boys and
girls, from 3 to 16 years olds, with both qualified coaches and teachers.
During the past thirty-one years the club has:-
- trained over three thousand gymnasts
- gained over eight thousand awards
- had members represent their schools and the county at National level in
three disciplines:-
Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Sports Acrobatics
- trained twenty coaches
- coached over three thousand competition entries and
- helped over twenty local schools and charities with displays and
fund-raising events, including the South of England Show.
In 1983 the club adopted the royal blue and white of its
then host school as club colours and mounted its first annual competition.
In every year since, the first Saturday in July has seen gymnasts competing
for honours in floor solos, vaulting and acrobatic pairs. The competition
has always been open to those who are school year three and above and not
attending other clubs. A range of trophies have been presented by various
groups and individuals, including the Sussex Clubs for Young People.
In April 2000 it started its Annual Arts Festival competitions - featuring
beam pairs, rhythmic solos & pairs and acrobatic groups. Over ninety gymnasts
now compete for the silver-ware on offer.
Amongst our ex-gymnasts the club knows of at least ten teachers, three fitness
trainers, a physiotherapist and numerous others whose careers have been
positively affected by their membership of the club.
With over thirty members of secondary school age, the club has participated in
local youth group activities and won the Neighbourhood Bowling
Competition at Crawley.
The club is maturing in the best sense of the word, with past gymnasts
now bringing their own children to enjoy the activities available.
In 2001 it became one of the first in the country to adopt, use and present
awards on the new 'Proficiency' scheme. The club has adopted the Floor,
Vaulting and Pairs disciplines - assessing gymnasts to Bronze, Silver & Gold
criteria.
The 1,000th Award 4 and 1,000th Award 6 gained at the Club were
presented in 2004, the 1,000th Award 5 in 2006 and the 1,000th Award 3 in 2010
- milestones of achievement.
The Club was amongst the first to adopt BGA's core 'Rainbow' scheme,and in
December 2001 presented its 5,000th British Gymnastics Association Award.
In September 2007 it was the first in the country to present awards from the
revised scheme starting at Award 8.
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