One of the strongest Otago artistic gymnastics teams in years
will contest the national championships in Timaru next month.
The team named recently is relatively small but is packed
full of athletes with potential.
Senior level gymnast Jessica Clydesdale (Dunedin Gymnastic
Academy) has a wealth of experience under her belt and will
be looking to add to the silver medal she won on the beam at
last year's championships.
Injuries have plagued Clydesdale in the past but quality
training has allowed her to avoid injury and compete
consistently in step seven throughout the season.
Her results have been impressive, with first placings in all
local competitions and a third at the South Island
championships.
Otago will also field a step five team of Shannon Hope (St
Bernadette's Gymnastics Club), Lily Mole (Dunedin Gymnastic
Academy) and Abby Stevens (Dunedin Gymnastic Academy).
Hope brings a level of maturity to the team at age 14 and an
impressive list of results from this season, with overall
placings in all local competitions, including two firsts and
a fifth overall at the South Island championships.
Mole (10) is the only one of the step fives to have been to
the national championships before, so her experience at this
level will bring an advantage to the team as will her
remarkable results throughout the season.
She has placed first overall at five out of six competitions
this year, including the Canterbury championships, an
outstanding achievement, as Canterbury has been the
top-performing province in New Zealand for the last few
years.
Stevens (10) has been a consistent performer throughout the
year and has been on the podium at four out of six
competitions this year.
She is a powerful athlete who performs particularly well in
the vault and floor disciplines.
The sole male athlete in the team, Dunedin Gymnastic
Academy's Tom Cushnie, will compete in the level six 6
competition.
His victory on the rings at the South Island championships
and second placing in the floor were excellent preparation
for the national event.
The national championships for artistic championships will be
held in Timaru from November 3 to 6.
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