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Mini marvels

Dave Lawrenson
12/ 6/2008

COACH Lesley Hickey is convinced that Salford Gymnastics Club’s two-piece girls will retain their Rochdale Invitational Day title in October after they maintained their stunning run of form at the North West Floor and Vault competition.

The mini marvels won 33 medals in the high class competition in Birchwood, Warrington.

And they had five overall gold medal winners in Eleanor Drury, Aimee Dryburgh, Marissa Fish, Shanice McConnell and Eleanor Canning.

Hickey said: "We took 26 girls to Birchwood. They were up against really strong competition with the top clubs from all over the north west taking part but more than half of them were in the top three in the overall placings.

"That is a fantastic achievement. These girls keep on surprising us. They exceed expectations in one competition and then go on to do even better in the next.

"And it is not the same children who keep on winning the medals. We have a really strong squad and the best performers differ from competition to competition.

"We did really well in the Greater Manchester Champion-ships recently, securing three overall titles.

"And the girls continued that form in Birchwood and we ended up having five overall champions.

"The girls’ next event is the Rochdale Invitational Day in October. And, considering how well they have been doing, I have no doubt that they will retain the title that they won last year."

Hickey added: "Eleanor Drury deserves a special mention as she was the only girl to win overall titles at both the Greater Manchester Championships and the North West Floor and Vault competition.

"She has shown us so much potential and she has been moved up to our four-piece squad. She has got what it takes to be a big achiever in gymnastics."

Eleanor Drury won the pre-novice under-10s vault and floor silver medals in Birchwood.

Aimee came first on the vault and second on the floor in the novice under-10s section, Marissa was first on the vault and third on the floor in the pre-novice under-11s category, Shanice took pre-novice under-nines gold on the floor and Eleanor Canning finished first on the floor and third on the vault in the pre-novice under-sevens event.

The club’s other medal winners were: Intermediate over-11s: Chloe Jones, first on the floor, third overall; Leah Faulkner, first on the vault; Amy Reeves, second on the vault; Leah Taylor, third on the vault; Melissa Hague, third overall. Novice under-11s: Sophia Housley, third on the vault, third overall. Pre-novice under-11s: Samantha Mellor, second on the floor, third overall. Novice under-10s: Charlotte Clarke, third on the vault. Pre-novice under-10s: Amy Scott, first on the floor, third on the vault, second overall. Pre-novice under-nines: Maria Keane, third on the floor. Novice under-eights: Paisley Letham, first on the vault, second overall. Pre-novice under-eights: Emily Keays, second on the vault, third overall.