THE Forest of Dean Gymnastics Club girls have finished off the year on a high.

After a successful year of competitions, the girls competed in the West Country League final and finished in second place, just behind Wiltshire School of Gymnastics.

They were announced as the second highest team scorers in Division 2 'A' League.

As they took the podium to receive their medals and trophy, team members Lily Brain, Millie Cottrell, Anna Preece, Grace Treharne, Eliza Cripwell and Lucy Smith were delighted.

From the outset the girls were determined to do well and made an excellent start on floor with confident, beautiful routines. Testimony to their standard was their individual results with Anna Preece (second overall with 11.97) and Millie Cottrell and Lucy Smith in equal third place scoring 11.93.

Six superb vaults once again gave them first place and kept them in the lead. Top scorer was Lily Brain in second place with 12.10 closely followed by Millie Cottrell with 12.03 and Anna Preece with 12.0.

Lacking a little confidence on a slippery and creaky high bar the girls nevertheless cleanly completed their routines. The final piece, beam saw a new confidence on this apparatus from the whole Forest team and with four scores above 11.00 to carry through from Grace, Lily and Anna and an excellent 11.5 from Millie it all added to the team's success.

Another highlight to the day was the arrival of the four times Commonwealth gymnastics champion, Claudia Fragipane from Bristol, to sign autographs and have photos taken with the girls.