Gymnastics: Close, Leslie at fore of strong Otago group

Otago gymnast Hannah Close (17) gets in some vault practice in Dunedin last week. Photo by Gregor...
Otago gymnast Hannah Close (17) gets in some vault practice in Dunedin last week. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

Gymnasts Hannah Close and Amaya Leslie shape as some of Otago's best prospects at the Gymsports National Championships beginning in Auckland today.

Close (17) is a medal prospect on the floor and in the vault in her category, while Leslie's (12) best apparatus is the balance beam.

The Step 8 gymnasts will be joined by 16 other artistic gymnasts, 18 rhythmic gymnastics, one trampolinist and about 30 aerobic gymnasts.

Close placed first on the floor and second in the vault at the South Island Championships. She has made it into the finals at the nationals before and hopes to do ''really well'' this time around.

The year-13 pupil at Otago Girls' High School took up gymnastics as a 10-year-old and trains about 16 hours each week.

Leslie, the daughter of former Highlanders captain and Scottish international John Leslie, has been honing her skills since she was a preschooler.

She is particularly skilled on the beam and, having placed first in the South Island Championships on the apparatus, will go into the nationals with plenty of confidence.

Other strong contenders include: Hamish King (13), who placed first in the vault at the South Island Championships; Grace Brenssell (13), who was first overall at the South Islands; Charlotte Hewson (11), who won a medal on the floor at the 2014 National Championships and placed second at the South Island Championships; and Corentin Manti (12), who will compete in the men's individual trampoline and double mini-tramp. He won a bronze medal in the individual trampoline event at the nationals in 2014.

In rhythmic gymnastics, the two grade four groups of Otago Gold - Anna Aitchison, Lucy Hayward, Ella Rose Capil and Florence Marshall - and Otago Purple - Sophia Amer, Ruby McFadgen, Ruby Cameron and Caitlin Thomson - have performed well throughout the season and are hoping to place at the nationals.

Otago has traditionally been strong in aerobics and is expected to do well.

The event ends on October 4.

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