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SGA 2015 – The Most Inclusive Gymnastics Competition Ever?

For the Cambridge gymnasts, this academic year was marked by an unprecedented total of three competitions – The British Veterans (November 2014), the 27th Varsity Match (March 2015) and Sutton Gymnastics Academy Adults’ Competition (May 2015).

We are a relatively small club with gymnasts of the widest imaginable range of experience – most people having trained in their childhood, but we do get the occasional national athlete who offhand refers to Louis Smith and Max Whitlock as “the boys” from training camps of the past. Significantly, we also have many sign-ups who have never really done the sport before but – with steely determination – attain those previously unimaginable gymnastics skills!

So let us rewind to November, when a small number of CUOGC gymnasts braved the journey to Lilleshall, Shropshire for the British Veterans championships. Brought up on the Varsity cycle, it was an adventure into the unknown, the impetus for which was provided by Bianca Jupp, former junior national competitor in her native Australia. Age categories and Novice to Pro categories made the “Veterans” competition more open to beginner adults, who were in some cases – ironically – new to competing.

We were all impressed by the seamless flow of British Vets – rotations ran on time, all routines were filmed, and British Gymnastics (BG) scores were updated on multiple screens and the mobile app almost instantly. However, this did come with a reasonably pricy entry fee. What is more, the strict rules of BG render non-British competitors ineligible for ranking. Considering that our club comprises a whole medley of nationalities (the 5 people competing at Vets had German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, British, French, American, and Australian nationalities between them) this restriction would apply to many of our gymnasts. As a result of this, Bianca Jupp, in spite of winning in her category – a spectacular comeback after quitting the sport 18 years ago – did not receive mention in the awards ceremony, let alone a medal.
 
Early in 2015, a new competition was announced – the 2nd adults competition at Sutton Gymnastics Academy. We were first intrigued, then amused and finally consumed in training for this unique competition. Akin to British Vets, extra decimal points were awarded for increasing age, a nice gesture in this discipline that has no mercy for overused joints and suboptimal strength-to-bodyweight ratios. Novice, Intermediate and Pro levels were offered. An exciting spin on this was that men could enter for women’s apparatus and vice versa, giving male gymnasts the opportunity to show off beam skills and women to demonstrate their mettle on rings, should they wish!

The final list of entrants from our club made for a motley crew. The men competing were David Ho (Men’s Captain) doing all 6 men’s apparatus, Eric Schmidt (Secretary), who for his first ever competition chose parallel bars, club alumnus and Half Blue Chris Vaquero and Anthony Vaquero of Imperial College who was there to give his brother a bit of healthy competition on floor. Last but definitely not least – William Borchert, a newcomer opting for all 4 women’s apparatus!

As for the ladies, we had Ania Banasik (former national rhythmic gymnast in her native Poland) on floor and beam, Reimi Konda (future Women’s Captain, only doing parallel bars – what a hero!), Nika Anžiček, long time club member doing beam and uneven bars along with parallel bars as her token men’s apparatus, President Natalia Przelomska doing uneven bars, floor and as her token – men’s high bar.

It was an eventful day of many Bronze medals for CUOGC, such as Natalia’s for Novice high bar, Chris’ for a solid Intermediate floor routine and Eric’s for Novice parallel bars (though Nika and Reimi nailed their routines and were not far behind)!

David Ho was put to shame in Pro level rings by less experienced Chris, who did hold his crosses. However, David redeemed himself on pommel horse (not only due to the respect gained from voluntarily competing on this soul-destroying apparatus) and parallel bars, winning silver on each. His floor routine was even more impressive and landing every tumble without a flinch, he placed first.

William Borchert, a member of US Bobsled and Skeleton Federation, who had taken up gymnastics for his year in Cambridge, definitely had the attention of the crowd during his floor routine. He finished with a signature skeleton dance(?) move. I will definitely not fail to reminisce if I hear ‘New York Groove’ again. His stronger pieces turned out to be vault and uneven bars; he placed third on each.

Ania and Nika kept their cool and stuck their beam routines, demonstrating much grace and flexibility. Nika received silver for a clean performance ending with a front handspring off.

The gymnast missing from our team was Kenneth Wong, who was absent due to injury. Everyone had been looking forward to his daring Intermediate beam routine, featuring a standing back tuck somersault.

Due to the popularity and relaxed atmosphere of this all-inclusive competition we anticipate the club will be entering again next year. If you are keen to give gymnastics a go, do get in touch with one of our committee members!

- by Natalia Przelomska, CUOGC President 2013-2015