A NEW gymnastics club is appealing for a permanent venue to train its pupils, after eight of them won 15 medals at their first regional artistic competition.

Tumbles Gymnastics in Newton-le-Willows was launched in November by World Champion Donna Maclean and ex-Scottish National Gymnastics Coach Gemma Burrows.

The club currently uses space in Hope Academy three days a week using portable equipment and spends Saturdays in St Peter’s Primary School.

In spite of the less than ideal training conditions, the club has gone from strength to strength with many of their pupils bringing back medals in the Cheshire and Merseyside Floor and Vault Championships.

Jenah Unsworth, 10 was crowned the Cheshire and Merseyside County Champion for her scores performing in both vault and floor in the under 12s category, winning a silver medal for floor.

Meanwhile her classmates Ebony McBride, 10, who reached silver overall and Sophie Reddy, 10, who achieved gold overall, got the same score to become Vault County Champions.

Maddie MacKinnon, also 10 was named as Cheshire and Merseyside Floor Champion with gold on Floor, Isabelle Anderson, 13 achieved silver for her floor work.

Grace Thomson, 10, received gold overall for her performances, winning silver medals on floor and vault, whereas Megan Stowell was awarded bronze overall.

Rose Nelson, nine, also did really well with a silver place for her age category.

Donna, 31, from Warrington said: “The girls did amazingly well, especially considering that we have had to manage with the equipment we have to train them.

“They far exceeded our expectations and it goes to show how much this club really needs a permanent home.

“We have 280 students with a further 150 on a waiting list, but we cannot take them on.

“We have had to use another training facility before the competition to ensure they were familiar with the proper equipment, but these girls deserve to move up to the next level now.”

Mum-of-two Gemma, from Haresfinch, added: “Currently, the North West offers very little opportunity to children who aspire to compete in gymnastics at the highest level, so we went out on our own to change that.”

For more information on the club visit tumblesacademyofgymnastics.co.uk or to discuss a venue for them call Donna on 07716436546.

Alternatively email info@tumblesacademyofgymnastics.co.uk.