Winning Start to West Country League 2014
After sweeping the board at last years West Country League Bristol Hawks Teams are aiming to retain their position at the top of the Premiership Division in each age section.
In the top age and difficulty group, the ‘C’ team, Rowena Needham, Issy Davis and Gabby Wild took the opportunity to try out new work. Rowena successfully competed her new floor tumbles including two double back somersaults to achieve the highest floor score of the day , she also stuck her new double spin on beam. Issy was brilliant through out including her new flick layout somersault on beam & full turning giant on bars to place first on both these events she also included a double twisting back somi on floor for the first time. Alongside this she produced a clean tucked tsukahara on vault securing her the top spot in the individual all around standings. Gabbys new work included a toe on and off to handstand on bars and she also competed a very well flighted piked tsukahara on vault to top score on this apparatus. With no other teams competing in this division for this first match of the season the team gold was theirs but they earned it with good difficult levels and some outstanding work.
In the Premiership ‘B’ league our team also took home the Gold medals prevailing over an impressive up and coming Neath Afan team who placed 2nd. Ellouise Challenger, who has proved to be a valuable team member for Bristol Hawks over the years, once again held her nerve to post crucial scores on both beam and floor anchoring our team and securing the victory. Elize Waits was strong on both beam and particularly bars where she controlled her dismount well to achieve her highest score and place third. Caitlin Lochhead won floor with a beautifully performed routine she also hit her handstands on bars and has greatly improved her vault achieving 2nd place on both these apparatus. Alice Wintle has also made great improvements on vault and it was pleasing to see her rewarded with the top score on this apparatus. She also successfully competed her new full twisting back somersault on floor to gain third place on both this and in the individual AA ranking. Top honours in the All Around went to Emily Edge with a great overall performance and a fantastic beam routine for first place there too. Her new full twisting back somersault on floor gained her a 2nd place finish on this apparatus and rounded off a highly successful day for both her and the team.
Our Premiership ‘A’ team, not to be outdone, competed with great self assurance to make it a clean sweep of Gold medals for our Bristol Hawks Teams. Once again the Neath Afan Team provided strong opposition particularly on floor where they took the first three placings to win this event however Bristol Hawks won the other three events giving us the overall victory.
Erin White and Dolshayea Bennet were the joint All Around individual top scorers with Erin performing a very artistic and precise beam routine for the highest score here and Dolshayea gaining 2nd place on both vault, where she was very dynamic, and beam where she showed great control. Chiara Fragapane showed great promise for the future with her crowd pleasing performance on floor. Roxanne Price was fast on vault winning first place and working well on the bars to gain 2nd on this apparatus and the 3rd place in the All Around.Both Mayalee Osola and Beccy James had steady overall performances. Highlights included the massive leap forward Mayalee has made on bars and floor, where she included a back somersault for the first time, and the impressive amplitude achieved by Beccy on both floor & beam.
Once again Bristol Hawks demonstrated the great team spirit that is the key to our success with our coaches officials and most importantly our gymnasts all encouraging each other to strive for excellence without losing sight of the most important reason to take part in sport – to have FUN! 