Eight Scots Selected for 2023 Scalabis Cup
Eight Scottish trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling gymnasts have been selected to join the 72 strong Great Britain team for the Scalabis Cup which takes place from 3 to 7 July 2023 in Santarém, Portugal.
Returning to the competition after previously competing and winning individual gold back in 2019, Banchory’s Ava Fettes will be hoping to build on her recent success as a junior, having been selected for the GB team at last year’s European Championships in Rimini and World Age Group Competition in Sofia. She will be competing in the DMT competition for the first time in the 17-21 age group.
In tumbling, Aaron Steel (Durham) will be competing in the junior competition, alongside Sapphire’s Lois Anderson who both make their international return following performances at the World Age Group Competition last year. Aaron who is no stranger to international medals after winning bronze in Bulgaria will be looking to compete in the hopes of selection for a home World Age Group Competition when they return to Birmingham later this year. Both gymnasts are part of the GB junior squad, and this opportunity to compete is a great example of the pathway progression.
Trampoline gymnasts Sarah Gallacher (Sparta) and Keir Davidson (Tiggers) are back in action for GB following a couple of exciting years for the gymnasts who have been part of GB squads, both progressing onto the senior development squad this year. Both gymnasts won team gold at the European Championships in the junior competition last year, and returned as part of the team for the World Age Group Competitions.
Three junior DMT gymnasts make up the Scottish contingent as GB debutants at the competition, with JUMP duo Ethan Cunningham and Paige Russell competing alongside Riley Summers from Scotia Trampoline Academy. Coming back from injury, Ethan missed out on an GB performance at the World Age Group Competitions last year, and with a strong performance at last month’s national age group finals, he will be one to watch in Portugal.
The Scalabis Cup is a great competition for debutant GB gymnasts, as well as providing a positive and more relaxed experience for more senior gymnasts ahead of selection for upcoming European and World level events. In the past, the likes of Banchory’s Kim Beattie have been success stories, winning gold at Scalabis in 2019 and then going on to win team silver at the 2022 World Championships, and recently being selected for the FIG World Cup event in Coimbra, Portugal the week after this year’s Scalabis Cup.
Banchory’s Melanie Stewart-Wills, who is the National Technical Lead for the DMT performance programmes for Scottish Gymnastics takes on the role of GB team coach for the event, supporting gymnasts from across the UK, and is joined by judges, Laura Smith, Lynn Simpson and Brian Scott as part of the delegation.
Wendy Purdie, Scottish Gymnastics performance manager said:
This is the largest number of Scottish gymnasts selected to represent GB at the Scalabis Cup and it’s testament to the hard work of all gymnasts in their clubs and as part of performance activity over the last year.
I wish the whole team the very best for the competition, and look forward to seeing them enjoy the international experience as part of such a large delegation.
Congratulations to the gymnasts selected to represent Great Britain at the Scalabis Cup. Scottish Gymnastics will provide updates from the competition via our social media channels.