1 Photo of the VIP guests and the Gymnast achievers of the year:
Back row L to R: Graham Turner (landlord), Sarah Philpott (DDC SDO), Malcolm Perkins, Olivia Bartlett, Ella Kalvaitis, Lucy Bartlett, Frank Critcher (chair), Ron Hambrook, Mayor Veronica Philpott.
Middle: Natasha Luetchford, Kiera Colquhoun, Camille Lasbareilles, Nicole Clark, Alysha Strain
Front: Emily Harlow, Jamie Williams, Emmie Wenlock
The 26th and 27th November was a very special weekend for Dover Gymnastics Club with their annual championships competition and a celebration of the club's 35th anniversary.
Former coaches and founders of Dover Gym Club, Ron Hambrook and Malcolm Perkins, were invited to present medals and awards to winning gymnasts and achievers.
Ron and Malcolm started Dover Gym Club in 1976 at Dover Sport Centre, its first home. It built up a membership of around 50 gymnasts and moved into a permanent base in the former Salvation Army building in High Street, Dover in 1983, where it stayed for the next twenty years.
In October 2003 it took its then membership base of 190 members to new premises in Holmestone Road, before moving to its current home at 2 Poulton Close in 2009 and now has almost 300 members.
Ron and Malcolm were joined by other VIP guests including Mayor of Dover Mrs Veronica Philpott, Dover District Sports Development Officer Sarah Philpott (no relation) and the owner of the building Graham Turner.
There was also an energetic display by Dover's award winning cheerleaders, the Vista Twisters who are reigning champions at both regional and national level. A number of Dover gym club girls are also in the Vista Twister squad.
Dover Gymnastics Club is a charity and the annual club Championships is one of the main fundraisers of the year to raise money to buy and replace important equipment such as safety landing mats, which are more than £500 each.
It was also an opportunity to say a special thank you to the team of volunteers including some parents and gymnasts who give up their own time every week to keep the club running. These include the coaches, Chairman Frank Critcher, Vice Chair Jon Green and Director/Treasurer Alison Martin.
Gymnasts who have performed well over the year were presented with awards, as follows:
Overall Achievers of the Year
1. Ella Kalvaitis - 3028 points (Junior Artistic Squad)
2. Olivia Bartlett - 2916 points (Senior Artistic Squad)
3. Lucy Bartlett - 2799 points (Junior Artistic Squad)
Mini Artistic Squad Achiever: Emily Harlow (846 points)
Senior 8 hour Squad Achiever: Natasha Luetchford (1441 points)
Junior 8 hour Squad Achiever: Kiera Colquhoun (1389 points)
Development Squad Achiever: Emmie Wenlock (195 points)
Advanced Girls Floor & Vault Squad Achiever: Camille Lasbairelles (767 points)
Intermediate Girls Floor & Vault Squad Achiever: Nicole Clark (685 points)
Novice Girls Floor & Vault Squad Achiever: Alysha Strain (403 points)
Boys Floor & Vault Squad Achiever: Jamie Williams (477 points)
The Club Championships provide an opportunity for each member of the club to compete against each other and also to show their families what they can do.
Every year there is a dress up/fancy dress theme at Club Champs and this year it was 35 (for the anniversary).
Club Chairman Frank Critcher said: 'It is so wonderful that Ron and Malcolm, the two founders of Dover Gym Club were able to join us to mark this important occasion. Without their hard work getting the club off the ground and developing it over the years we wouldn't have the great facility we have today. I'm so pleased they joined the celebration and helped to present the medals to the winning gymnasts.'
Graham Turner who owns the building said: 'I had these premises built 42 years ago, as a clothing factory where I employed around 60 local women. It's had a couple of uses over the years, including the place where gaming machines from cross channel ferries were maintained and repaired. However, I think having Dover Gymnastics Club use it, is the best use it has ever had and I'm pleased to see it being put to such good use.'
Incidentally, Malcolm Perkins was one of the builders who built the unit back in the late 1960s.
Dover Gym Club continues to go from strength to strength. Its Kindergym and pre-school classes for youngsters and toddlers is growing every week with sessions now every Tuesday and Thursday, giving the children a healthy start to their development. There are also adult classes on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
For more information visit www.dovergymclub.com
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Page created: 18 December 2011