Trampoline team triumph in Portgual (and Hull)

There were large numbers in many age groups, making competition fierce.

The league comprises four events, the others being in Burgess Hill, Cardiff and Tyne and Wear, where performers battle for medals and points. The top 24 in each age group gain points which are added together – with the top-ranked 24 performers in the UK per category earning the right to compete at national league finals at the Copper Box in London in November. This was a 2012 Olympic venue so all performers are striving to achieve this honour.

Dragonflyers are hoping to top the four national qualifiers they had last year.

Anya Johnston wowed the judges with her height, form and difficulty of routines to gain second position in the 13/14-years group, gaining crucial points. Libby Morton finished fourth after set and voluntary routines in 11/12 years, with Izzy Hauxwell right behind her in fifth.

These positions were reversed in the finals with Hauxwell pulling out an amazing display to finish fourth, with Morton sixth.

Sofija Kalnicenko came 11th and Taylor Cleall 19th in the 15/16 years, Ellie Morton was 20th in the 13/14 years, all taking points. Alice Chapman in the 13/14 years and Natalie Pullen at 19-plus also did exceptionally well and gained critical experience in this their first year at national level, finishing 29th and. 14th.

Hauxwell and Morton followed up their second position at Burgess Hill at u16 synchro with fourth after two routines gaining them essential points ranking them in the top three.

Meanwhile, Dragonflyers took five talented youngsters to Santarem, Portugal, for an international competion. South Africa, Turkey and Finland were among national teams participating, along with top clubs from the USA and Spain.

Anya Johnston and Ellie Morton were the first Flyers to compete in the under-14 female category, a tough group of 50.

The precision of the duo’s set routines placed them fifth and 28th place going into the voluntary routine. They executed their difficult routines in style and their total earned Johnston a scores of 80.635 and Morton 73.395, securing tenth and 28th overall.

Izzy Hauxwell, who is 12, Libby Morton, 11, and Sofija Kalnicenko, ten, jumped in the under-12 group. Some 70 gifted participants completed a wonderful competition.

Hauxwell and Morton’s set routines were majestic, gaining them seventh and 11th before the voluntary routines. The combination of ten different somersaults with twists was breathtaking and their scores of 75.270 and 74.565 gained them 12th and 14th positions.

Morton’s form and execution was the fourth highest of the group.

Kalnicenko’s inexperience showed as nerves got the better of her on her set routine but the Flyers coaches were proud as she regained her composure to pull off a fantastic voluntary routine, scoring 23rd out of 70.

The girls are desperately looking for sponsorship to enable them to travel to Salzburg in October, when it is hoped they will participate in a world age-group category.

Interested in sponsoring the team? Call 07502 480394. For competitive trampolining, look up the Dragonflyers website, or for recreational sessions, call The Arena sports centre on 01243 870000.

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