THE Forest of Dean Gymnastics and Fitness Centre is celebrating its fifth anniversary this week. They are holding an 'Open Week' at which anyone can see what is on offer, watch the gymnasts, try out the fitness equipment and try classes in pilates, yoga or 'Fitball' for only £1.

The club worked in local school gyms for nearly 20 years before achieving their dream of having their own facility.

Nine years of hard fund-raising finally enabled a dream to come true when an award of £875,383 from the National Lottery in 1997 provided enough funding to start building.

The club now has 300 gymnasts from tots aged one to competition squads who achieve regular success at regional and national levels.

Many major events are now held there and the Forest of Dean is now on the national map for gymnastics.

The club employs a full time Romanian high performance boys' coach, Paul Urzica, and recently enjoyed a visit by Romanian coach Mariolena Peretean who

trained with Nadia Comaneci.

The fitness area is staffed by highly trained and experienced professionals and has expanded considerably during the past five years. Two areas now offer a wide range of high quality fitness equipment and the separate, mirrored dance and exercise studio, with its sprung floor, is ideal for pilates, over 50s, yoga, fitball and other classes that take place at the centre.

The ambience is friendly and welcoming and many of the members have trained there since its opening by Tony Banks, the Minister for Sport.

Many members have joined the specialised indoor rowing programme this year which led to the club sending a large team to the British 'Concept 2 Indoor Rowing championships' held at Birmingham.

Everyone achieved a personal best and the club brought back a bronze and silver medal. Further success at the Welsh championships saw Gill Wallis and Judith Pople become national champions with Gill being awarded grand prix gold as well.

The centre services all sectors of the community with around 10 groups of adults with special needs using the fitness areas and the special floor level trampoline. Several local primary schools receive weekly national curriculum gymnastics classes and Lakers School use the studio for aerobics and for their special 'Botcha' programme which enables disabled children to participate in a form of indoor bowls.

With the large numbers of children training, the club always needs new coaches and specifically needs help with the boys' classes at the moment.

If there are any coaches in the area the club would love to hear from you.