Trampoline club springs to most successful year ever

The club has won medals at every competition entered this year, and six of its gymnasts were selected to represent Scotland at the British Gymnastics NDP (National Development Plan) regional team finals at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham at the end of May.

Two coaches were also selected to be Scotland team coaches, with head coach, Lynn Simpson, appointed as lead coach for the national side.

At this national competition three Flyers gymnasts won two golds and a bronze helping Team Scotland to its best ever result, coming first in Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) and second in Trampoline (TRA).

The six Team Scotland gymnasts included: Nia Simpson (NDP Level 1 Ladies 11-12 years) from Kirkcaldy (placed 19th); Leo Forrest (NDP Level 4, Men 11-12 years) from Dalgety Bay (placed 1st – gold);

Richard Thompson (NDP Level 3, Men 11-12 years) from Kennoway (placed 3rd – bronze); Ross Todd (NDP Level 3, Men 13+ years) from Dollar (placed 8th);

Oscar Birrell (NDP Level 5, Men 13-14 years) from Leven (placed 1st – gold); Sean Forrest (NDP Level 5, Men 15+ years) from Dalgety Bay (placed 5th).

At the British Gymnastics NDP regional team finals, five Flyers gymnasts were placed in the top eight of their respective levels, which led to qualification for the British Gymnastics, NDP individual finals in Telford in July.

Oscar Birrell claimed gold, Leo Forrest took silver and Ross Todd won bronze.

The remaining two athletes, Sean Firrest and Richard Thompson, were placed fourth and eighth respectively.

All of the club’s gymnasts who were able to compete, 16 in total, qualified for the Scottish National Trampoline & DMT Championships - Flyers’ highest ever number with only one gymnasts unable to compete due to injury.

At this competition, held in Perth on September 24, the Fifers had further success, winning eight golds, two silvers and one bronze medal.

Ann Milne, coach and club secretary, said: “Flyers coaching Team are really proud of all our gymnast’s achievements this year, both at Scottish and British competitions.

“We’re also very grateful to Fife Council, which awarded a small individual sports grant to our five gymnasts resident in Fife, and to Clackmannanshire Council Youth Bank which awarded a similar grant to Ross.

“These grants subsidised the cost of travel and accommodation for the NDP Regional Team Finals, and our gymnasts really appreciated this support from these bodies.”