National Special Olympics Gymnastics Competition at Waveney Gymnastics Club 

Waveney Gymnastics Club, in conjunction with Special Olympics Suffolk, hosted a National Special Olympics Gymnastics Competition which, in addition to the host club, attracted teams from across the country and from as far away as Jersey and Glasgow. In the days prior to the competition the club held a Gymnastics Camp which included specialist coaching across the range of disciplines including floor, rings, pommel, vault, beam, high bar, asymmetric and parallel bars.

Coming from places as far afield as Glasgow, Hull, Worcestershire, Norfolk, Devon and indeed Jersey, the visiting teams and their coaches were hugely impressed by the Olympic standard facilities at the Notley Road Club, facilities which were used by international teams including Team GB in the lead in to the London 2012 Olympics. As most of the clubs cannot offer such facilities the Camp and Competition provided an ideal training and competition opportunity in preparation for the 2017 Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games in Sheffield. The standard of performance was excellent as the host team battled it out against some of the best Special Olympics gymnasts from across GB and indeed beyond.

The judges included people who have judged at the highest levels nationally and internationally including some who have judged at a number of Special Olympics World Games. Among the special guests attending was Councillor Nick Webb, Mayor of Lowestoft and South Lowestoft and Suffolk County Council Member, Bill Montford, who contributed greatly to the presentations .

Event Organiser from the host club, Ellen Hutchings said ‘’This was the first time the club has organised a national level Special Olympics Gymnastics competition and hopefully this, coupled with the Camp, will encourage everyone to return next year as this was the start of what is intended to be an annual event’’

Terry McEntee, Chair of Special Olympics Suffolk, says ‘Great credit must go to Waveney Gymnastics Club, whose staff and volunteers drew great praise from those attending and taking part which was a great advert for Lowestoft, Waveney and Suffolk’’