For many, the weekend was about gaining experience and confidence in a challenging environment. Despite the nerves that can come with debut performances, the team met the challenge, earning encouraging results and showing clear progress in all disciplines.
The team brought home three medals, highlighted by excellent performances from Megan Turner and Milly Rabaiotti. Megan secured gold in Grade 4 Floor, an achievement made even more impressive by the circumstances of her routine. Reflecting on her performance, Megan expressed her happiness about doing well, especially since she created her routine that day. This showed her adaptability and composure under pressure. Performing a newly formed routine in a competition is challenging, making her gold medal a significant win.
Milly also had a great weekend, earning gold in Grade 3 Vault with a strong and confident showing. She added a bronze in the Grade 3 Overall, showing her steady performance across different events and solidifying her status as one of the top members of the team.
Beyond the medal winners, the team displayed depth by achieving five more top-ten finishes in the competition. Several athletes came close to sharing the podium with their teammates. Megan Turner missed an additional medal by just 0.1 points in the Overall, while Ed Knight was only 0.3 points away from a Vault bronze. These narrow margins showed the competitive nature of the event and illustrated how small details can make a big difference.
Not every routine went smoothly. There were several falls throughout the weekend, including the memorable moment when Thea accidentally fell off the floor, which drew a mix of shock, laughter, and encouragement from her teammates. However, the team’s response to these setbacks highlighted the supportive culture within the club, with athletes helping each other and keeping spirits high during the competition.
The weekend also highlighted the team’s dedication off the competition floor. Sophie Etches exemplified this commitment by taking a 4am train to Leicester, ensuring she made it to her 9am registration. Her effort was widely admired and showed how far athletes will go to represent the club.
The competition was especially important for the men’s artistic gymnastics (MAG) team, featuring six first-time MAG competitors. Their performances were motivated by a strong sense of competition within the team, encouraging each other to do their best while gaining valuable experience in their first competitive environment.
heir performances were motivated by a strong sense of competition within the team...
Outside of the competitions, the team strengthened their bonds off the floor. On Saturday evening, they participated in a team-building scavenger hunt, allowing them to relax, celebrate their successes, and connect across disciplines and levels.
Starting the year with this competition has set a positive tone for the season ahead. The squad is now preparing for upcoming events, including Varsity on March 18th and a trip to Edinburgh in April. With medals already secured, their debut performances completed, and a strong sense of unity, the club is heading into the rest of the season with momentum, motivation, and a lot to build on.