Sport / Last-minute trip cancellation reinforces calls for gymnastics facility
SHETLAND Gymnastics Club says the need for a purpose-built gymnastics facility has been laid bare once more after the club had to cancel a trip away at the last minute.
The long squad for this summer’s Island Games in Orkney were due to arrive in Aberdeen off the boat tomorrow (Saturday) for training at a full gymnastics facility.
But the club had to be cancelled due to the high winds and sailing conditions, leaving gymnasts without valuable practice before July’s games.
Club coach Julie Grant said the trip was “extremely crucial to our athletes’ training”.
While tonight’s boat south is set to sail, it is due to be delayed by up to two hours arriving into Aberdeen tomorrow morning.
That would have meant the club would have missed its slot at the gym.
The club was also due to travel back to Shetland on Sunday night, with a yellow weather warning for wind in place in the isles from 6am to 6pm on that day.
Grant said there was “uncertainty” about whether the boat would actually sail on Sunday, which could have left the club facing unwanted bills for accommodation and food at the last minute.
Coupled with parents and coaches then potentially having to take time off work on Monday, the decision was taken to cancel the trip.
While the club itself made the decision, Grant said the lack of a purpose-built gymnastics facility in Shetland meant these trips were essential in the first place.
“Travelling this weekend has meant the club had to cancel our usual Saturday training for the other competitive gymnasts, as coaches are away with the long squad,” she said.
“Now that the trip has been cancelled we cannot hire the hall for the normal duration and have to adapt their training schedules, which has an effect on their overall training for the games.”
Gymnasts train out of the Clickimin Leisure Complex in Lerwick, but the equipment they use is not full competition size – which can leave the club at a disadvantage when it comes to facing mainland clubs.
Grant said gymnasts performed their floor routines on a 12x12m sprung floor, which was not available in Shetland.
“As we do not have the space or funds to own a sprung floor our gymnasts cannot practice their full routines effectively and in turn this requires us to travel to the mainland frequency to train in a facility that holds this equipment,” she said.
“This increases the club’s and the gymnasts’ financial costs when taking part in this sport.”
Grant said the club wanted gymnastics to be “as inclusive as possible” in the isles, but the lack of available facilities locally were putting barriers in the way of some people.
“We understand that weather-related disturbances cannot be avoided but this again stresses the need for having a permanent building for our gymnasts and equipment,” she said.
Shetland Gymnastics Club recently announced it had secured a bank loan to purchase a building in the isles to be used as a dedicated facility for the sport.
It has not commented on its location, but said it was a perfect place for its athletes to train in.
With more than 400 young children on its waiting list, the gymnastics club has been hampered by the lack of a purpose-built gymnastics facility since its inception in 2005.
Numerous setbacks have hit their search for a dedicated building, with the club saying in September 2023 it would look to build its own facility – despite that being the most expensive option.
Grant added that the building was “the ideal size” and “has the opportunity for our club to develop and inspire children and adults in Shetland to be active.”
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