GYMNASTS tumbled to success at two major national and regional championships.

Awesome tumbling from Kestrel gymnasts at the Welsh NDP Tumbling Championships in Deeside resulted in three national champions being crowned. 

Performing three set tumbles, Olive Dunster was first to compete taking gold in the NDP Level 11 to 12-year section. 

The excellent performance continued in the 13 to 14-year section, with Maisie Edwards landing the NDP Level 2 title. 

And to end the day’s competition, the Bulwark-based club scored a hat-trick of Welsh crowns with Georgie Davies taking gold in the 15 and over NDP Level 3 Section.

Clubmate Jessica Ham pushed her close taking silver, with both executing precise tumbles. 

“Olive, Maisie, Georgie and Jessica all qualified to represent Wales at the British semi-finals at The Arena in Birmingham in June, and we are all very proud of them all at Kestrel,” said club coach Shirley Lazere-Bennett.

In the boys’ 13 to 14 section, James Davies also improved his skills to land bronze, while Erica Denby took fifth place Ribbon.

Erin Roberts in the 11 to 12-year group missed out on her second tumble, but showed great improvement in the other two.

Kestrel Gymnastics Club also played host to the recent East Wales Schools Tumble and Vault Championships, where gymnasts from primary and secondary schools across the region performed three different tumbles and two vaults.

In the U11 girls’ section, Lilian Sapsford of The Dell Primary in Chepstow won silver and Olive Dunster of St Mary’s RC Primary, Chepstow, took bronze behind Bristol-based pupil Callie Williams, while Undy Primary won team gold, St Mary’s Primary silver and The Dell bronze. 

In the boys’ U11 section Brereton Trim of Shirenewton Primary won silver between Tredegar Park duo Nando Gaskor in gold and Ben Jenkins in bronze.

At U14 girls’ level, Maisie Edwards of Monmouth Comprehensive School won gold from Ruby Tugwell (Caerleon) and Ella Burley (St Joseph’s), and helped her school to team silver behind Caerleon.

There was a clean sweep for Chepstow School in the U19 girls’ section, with Georgie Davies in gold, Jessica Ham in Silver, and Clare John in bronze.

Lilian Sapsford (The Dell), Olive Dunster and Eva Meddins (St Mary’s), plus Undy duo Erin Brady and Bethan Peacock will now go forward to represent East Wales at the Welsh Regional Finals at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff in March

Brereton Trim (Shirenewton) and Daniel Kucharczyk (Thornwell Primary, Bulwark) have been picked as part of the Ull boys’ team, while Maisie Edwards (Monmouth Comprehensive) and Erica Denby (Chepstow Comprehensive) are in the U14 girls’ squad.

Chepstow trio Georgie Davies, Jessica Ham and Clare John all made the U19 girls’ team.