Sport / Gymnastics club get vital Island Games training in Aberdeenshire
GYMNASTS from Shetland travelled to Aberdeenshire at the weekend for vital competition training in the run-up to this summer’s Island Games.
Athletes from Shetland Gymnastics Club made the trip down to Etko Sports Academy in Oldmeldrum to prepare for the event in Orkney this July.
They were also joined by former Scottish Commonwealth Games coach Sandy Richardson, who helped them tidy up their skills and gave teaching tips.
Having access to a sprung floor meant the gymnasts could practise their competition floor routines properly, something they currently cannot do at home.
They trained full bar routines, as the bars the club has at home are not up to competition height and width, and were also able to work their vault and bars upgrade due to access to a foam pit for safe landings.
Over the course of three days training the gymnasts learned a number of new skills.
However the club said only some of these will be able to performed again at home, with more training trips needed for some athletes before they are comfortable enough to practice these in Shetland.
Gymnasts coach Julie Grant said the “constant need for training trips” south was a “huge financial outlay” for the club and parents.
She added this would “hopefully be resolved if the club can secure a facility in Shetland shortly.”
The club thanked NorthLink ferries for their continued sponsorship, Ability Shetland, Young Islanders Network and Shetland Sport and Leisure for funding towards the trip.
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