Linton Leap to Gymnastics Success

Teams of Year 3 & 4 gymnasts from twelve South Cambs primary schools took part in the annual School Games Gymnastics Competition on Wednesday 31st January at Comberton Village College.

The gymnasium was silent and the atmosphere concentrated whilst the children demonstrated their skills on the vault and floor in front of the judges and on looking spectators. At stake was the chance to represent South Cambs SSP at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough School Games Spring Festival, with the top two schools qualifying to take on the best schools from across the County.

After a welcome and warm up led by the partnerships sports leaders the competition started. The mixed teams of six children from Great Abington, Castle Camps, Thriplow, Cottenham, Coton, Linton Heights, Harston & Newton, Haslingfield, Meridian & Barnabas Oley schools all had to perform a vault and then either a floor or body management routine with each performance judged and given a score out of 10. Each child’s individual score in both disciplines was then combined to give an overall team score out of a maximum of 120.

The competition was fiercely contested and after all of the scores were added up less than 2 points separated the top 4 teams! With strong performances throughout the whole team it was previous winner Linton Heights Junior School who out performed all of the others to claim the title of South Cambs champions! Last year’s winners Castle Camps finished closely behind in 2nd place. Both teams now go forward to represent South Cambs SSP at the County School Games Spring Finals on Thursday 22nd March at Huntingdon Gymnastics Club.

The top 3 scoring individuals in the competition were also awarded with medals with again some extremely close scores.

1st        Lulu       Castle Camps    19.40
2nd     Jenny     Gt Abington      19.35
3rd      Megan    Gt Abington     19.30

Qualified young judges from Comberton, Cambourne and Linton Village Colleges did an excellent job in scoring the performances of all of the competitors, keeping the competition running smoothly and encouraging and supporting the young gymnasts.

The ‘Spirit of the Games’ award that recognises the team that has best demonstrated the sporting values of respect, determination, teamwork, honesty, passion and self-belief was awarded to Coton Primary School. The sports leaders judged them as the winners for showing great self-belief and passion throughout the afternoon. Individual Spirit of the Games award were also presented to Maisy & Bryony from Haslingfield Primary for showing great determination in their performances and displaying positive attitudes whilst competing with big smiles on their faces, well done to both of them.

Claire McDonnell, South Cambs School Games Organiser said,

“It was another great competition. It’s nice to offer children the opportunity to represent their school and compete in a more artistic type of event such as gymnastics. It always amazes me how well the children perform under quite intense pressure, it is so quiet in the gym and there are lots of other children, staff and parents watching on. All of the children did exceptionally well and should be proud of themselves.

Whilst we recognise and celebrate the winners and wish Linton Heights and Castle Camps the best of luck at the county finals next month the main purpose of all of our events is to ensure the children have an enjoyable time and to encourage them to achieve their personal best and I think they all did that today.

The young judges also did an exceptional job, we couldn’t have run the competition without them, they were focused and efficient throughout.”

Full results

View further photos from the competition on our Facebook page here.