Southwater gymnastics pair advance to regional finals

Adam Khan and Zak Parrott will represent the South East at the Acrobatic Gymnastics Inter Regional Finals in Southampton.

And for head coach Kirstine Dawson, it is a huge feather in the cap of such a small club.

“We are really pleased with that recognition and I am delighted they got that result,” she said.

“Some of the gymnasts they compete against train up to 14 hours a week, and we only do four.”

The club, based at Southwater Leisure Centre, concentrates on introducing children to the sport, with an emphasis on enjoyment rather than pushing towards elite competition - so with qualifiers for the National Finals on the horizon, it’s an unlikely aim.

Kirstine added: “It gives them the opportunity play other sports as well, such as I know Adam plays football for Southwater also.

“If we see potential to become an elite gymnast we do not, unfortunately, have the equipment to push to that level, that would be for clubs such as Horsham. We just want to make sure we provide opportunities at the grass roots.”

Adam, ten, and seven year old Zac’s, silver medal came at the Inter-Regional Qualifier in Hastings last week, performing individual and acrobatic elements in a partnership or group - in what was only their second competition together.

Meanwhile, Infinity women’s pair, Katherine Fellingham, ten, and Lilly Knight, seven, performed superbly against tough competition to finish 11th overall, a great experience for seven-year-old Lilly, who is new to competitions.