Medal hopes off to national titles

Seven members of PCYC Redcliffe will this week be put to the test in the nation’s top trampolining and tumbling competitions.

All are in the Queensland team for the Australian Gymnastics Championships (May 12-17), which is also a qualifier for the world titles.

Hopes are high some of the peninsula seven going to the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara this week, will medal.

State seven

Harrison Lee, age 16 – competing in the Junior Under 22 Division

Bryce Edwards, age 15 – Junior Under 17

Beau Edwards, age 10 – Youth Under 13

Karsa Collins, age 17 – Level 7 Tumbling

Samuel Hosking, age 15 – Level 6

Kasen Hetherington, age 11 – Level 5

Carter Parcell, age 12 – Level 5

They will be joined by Lyn Gilroy, Gymnastics Coordinator at PCYC Redcliffe, who will be one of the state team’s coaches.

Medal hopes

Gilroy hopes several will be in the mix for medals and may be selected for the Australian training squads this year.

“It is a tough level of competition,” said Gilroy, “these are age groups which will be representing Australia at world championships.

“Seven is a very good number. We had eight, but one is injured. It’s exciting times and good for the club.

“I would expect a couple of our older boys, Harrison and Bryce, to be up among the medals, and I expect a number to be in finals.

"Karsa, one of our tumblers .... I expect her to get there as well.”

Challenges

Gilroy will also have long 12-14 hour days at the national titles helping the 64-strong Queensland squad members.

“All the kids are individual and it’s a case of learning how they respond,” she says. “Yes, I get nervous for them. It’s a physical and mental activity.

“But we coach through the mental side using imagery and routine. Obviously, we want everything to go well, but we also practice what happens if things go wrong. 'How do I cope with that'?”

Early start

PCYC Redcliffe has 595 members in its gymnastics programs each week. Many are from the peninsula but some from further afield and two from Gympie, leaving at 4am to train.

Lyn Gilroy thanked the Belvedere Hotel Social Club which made a donation “which has been fantastic” she said in helping the members get to the nationals.

Main picture: Back row from left - Karsa Collins, Samuel Hosking, Harrison lee, Bryce Edwards. Front from left - Beau Edwards, Kasen Hetherington, Carter Parcell

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