THERE were loud cheers from an excited team of gymnasts and teachers as they mounted the podium to collect the winner’s shield at the Forest’s Primary Schools’ Gymnastics Championships.

It was the first time that Mitcheldean Endowed Primary School has won the Forest PS shield and the win in the 20th year of the annual event was all the more special as head teacher Julia Dowding, who trains the team, is retiring at Easter.

Nearly 200 children entered the competition at the Forest of Dean Gymnastics Centre in Five Acres, with eight schools competing this year from the Forest and Herefordshire.

Mrs Dowding said she was ‘delighted’ as Mitcheldean took the title from Much Birch in second, with Madley in third, while two of the winning school’s gymnasts also landed individual titles, Savanha Dunn-Hale proving top girls’ Level 1 scorer, and schoolmate Jacob Tipper taking the boys’ level 3 crown.

Ellwood’s Emily Smith took the girls’ Level 2 honours, with Ella Robinson from Gorsley Goffs best at Level 3 and Anastasia Hughes from Much Birch top at Level 4.

Woodside Primary’s Archie Weyman was boys’ Level 2 winner, with Madley’s Charlie Stokes landing the Level 1 crown.

Other schools taking part were Berry Hill and Clearwell.

The competition allows children of all levels of experience to enjoy representing their schools at gymnastics, ranging from beginners competing at Level 1 to experienced gymnasts in Level 4.

Youngsters performed a set floor routine and two vaults, and the atmosphere throughout the day was friendly and encouraging, with teachers and children from all schools supporting each other.

Trophies were presented to the three highest scoring sch- ools.

Their team scores were then the total of their highest two boys’ scores and highest two girls’ scores from at least two different levels.

The highest scoring girl and boy at each level also received trophies with each having their moment of triumph on the podium.

The judges were from the Forest of Dean Gymnastics Club and with the help of a team of volunteers the day ran slickly and to time.