Gymnastics: Otago trio rewarded for fine form

Otago gymnasts Mikaela Walsh (with ribbon), Kendall King (with ball), and Sarah Morrison (with hoop) train at the Caledonian gymnasium this week after they were selected to represent New Zealand at the Australian championships in July. Photo by Jane Dawber.

They gained selection after top performances at the New Zealand championships in Hamilton and at the national trials in Auckland. There are 15 gymnasts in the New Zealand team.

The rivalry between 14-year-olds Walsh and Morrison has kept both honest and has lifted their standard to a level where Morrison finished top qualifier in level seven at the New Zealand trials and Walsh was second.

Morrison won the first day of trials and Walsh was second. The results were reversed on the second day.

This has been the pattern for the past 12 months, Walsh winning the Otago and Canterbury championships and Morrison winning the South Island and finishing one place ahead of her rival when second at the New Zealand championships.

Walsh, a pupil at St Hildas Collegiate, started gymnastics at the age of 5 and is coached by Keita McGowan at the Southern Gymnastics Academy.

She has shown a steady improvement at New Zealand championships in the past three years. In 2006, she was part of the Otago team that won the bronze medal in level four.

A year later, she was second overall in level five and last year was third overall in level seven and won a gold medal in the club.

Morrison, a pupil at Queens High School, was second overall in level seven last year and won a gold medal in the hoop.

Morrison and King both compete for the Greater Green Island club and are coached by Sonya Hooper.

Hooper (28), a restaurant supervisor, is coach for the Greater Green Island Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.

She has been coaching for 13 years and was coach of the New Zealand Rhythmic team at the Australian championships in 2000, 2001 and 2008. She is impressed by the form of her two gymnasts.

"Sarah is very determined, an aggressive trainer and is noted for her strength and ability on the apparatus," Hooper said.

King (17), a pupil at Kavanagh College, won four bronze medals at last year's national championships - three on the apparatus and the overall - and was ranked second in level nine at the trials.

"She is a talented all-rounder and has the attitude that is needed to succeed in the international arena," Hooper said.