THE senior gymnasts of Madresfield Movement Club have been rehearsing their routines for many weeks in preparation for their competition, which took place in April.

Gymnasts were given free choice of music and apparatus movements and had to put together a routine demonstrating a range of compulsory and free choice moves. Costumes and themes were exciting and created a dramatic atmosphere.

The winning routine by Louise Russell-Pavier and Rhiannon Burton contained an exciting array of daring pairs balances as they sustained the James Bond theme of Tomorrow Never Dies.

Judges were invited from Bristol and Wales who met with the children afterwards to give them results and comments.

The medal winning routines were:

Gold Medals: Louise Russell-Pavier & Rhiannon Burton - Tomorrow Never Dies. Silver Medals: Keri Jones & Alicia Bennett - Under the Sea. Bronze Awards: Suzanne Green & Elizabeth Bennett - Cavorting Cat & Mischief Mouse. Fourth Place: Heather Campbell & Gemma Jones - Amazon Acrobats. Fifth Place: Louise Harper-Charles & Ella Davison - Midnight Dreams.

The Club Junior Gymnastics Competition involved 40 gymnasts, both boys and girls, ranging in age from 5-9 years. Gymnasts worked in pairs, performing to a set piece of music with a combination of compulsory and free choice moves. There was an exciting array of themes and costumes ranging from animals and mermaids to surf babes and Posh and Becks!

Gymnasts worked hard to create routines that demonstrated a variety of solo and pairs balances linking movements with jumps and dance steps which showed effective partnership as well as good dynamics and flow.

The club welcomed two judges, Mrs Janet Barley (an ex-coach of the club) from Bristol, and Mrs Wendy Griffiths (an advanced club coach) from Wales.

After an exciting afternoon of very varied and talented performances the children and audience waited patiently for the judges to make their decision. All the children received a medal and trophies were awarded to the top four pairs who were:

Gold: Ella Guest & Alice Bedworth - Water Nymphs. Silver: Suzanne Green & Harry Green - Cruella de-Ville & Oddball. Bronze: Claudia Freemantle & Sophie Canham - Lion & the Lion Tamer. Fourth Position: Poppy Campbell & Claire Gadd - Daft Dalmations.

The Bronze, Silver and Gold routines will be performed once again at the outdoor Garden Party on Sunday, July 1 when all members of the club (over 40 in all) will be present for a grand Red Devils march out and will then take part in various large group gymnastic routines.

Madresfield Movement Club is a gymnastics club which holds classes for both pre-school and after school children throughout the week during term time. Other clubs are also available (adventure activities, jogging, ballet etc).

For further information contact Madresfield Early Years Centre on (01684) 574378.