Gymnastics Experience Day | Fun for all in first of new event series
Scottish Gymnastics held the first of a series of Gymnastics Experience Days at Lasswade High School on Saturday 10 August.
The aim is to enhance participants’ experience beyond competitive and performance gymnastics. These new events allow recreational gymnasts to come together from different clubs, make new friends and discover more about what the sport has to offer.
With help of Scottish international medalists and experienced coaches, participants enjoyed six experiences: acrobatics, choreography, men’s artistic, TeamGym, women’s artistic and rhythmic. They also were able to hear more about the Scottish guest gymnasts’ competitive experiences and gain valuable advice.
In the acrobatics experience, gymnasts worked with 2023 Great Britain representative gymnast Molly McHale learning how to balance in pairs, trios and up to a group of six! On the other half of the floor, Commonwealth silver medalist Louise Christie led gymnasts through handling different hand apparatus across their body and in the air as used in rhythmic.
Artistic was split into its two disciplines: women’s included gymnasts working on their balance as they played games in teams and worked through individual challenges on beam. From swinging on the rings, then on to the high bar and giving the pommel a go, gymnasts were fully tested on the men’s artistic specific pieces with World Cup medalist Cameron Lynn.
Across the hall, trampette and trampoline were put to use for TeamGym, introducing the basics of how to use the bedded apparatus to jump to the highest heights. Shannon Archer, Commonwealth Bronze medalist and 2024 British champion on vault, covered choreography which is an essential part of many of disciplines.
Nine of our Youth Forum members joined us at the event, assisting the groups around the stations and getting stuck in themselves. They too enjoyed trying other disciplines for the first time, as Eden from Dumfries Y commented, she would like to try “TeamGym or rhythmic” if women’s artistic wasn’t an option.
Nicola, a mum of a participant said: “My little girl had the best day; it was hard work but she loved it! Thank you to everyone involved on making the day such a success.”
A big thank you to the coaches, guests, youth forum and of course the gymnasts for helping to deliver a fun-filled day. Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on the next in the series of this event – it could be coming to a gym near you!
Photography Credit: David Mollison