WOODLEY-BASED Bulmershe Gymnastics Club are celebrating after five of their artistic gymnasts were selected to represent the region at the National finals in May.

Twelve-year-old Emma Kendall, 10-year-old Alice Bruun, and nine-year-olds Lauren Saunders, Amelie Bowles and Darcy Thorne were selected after delivering impressive performances at the Southern Region Grades Championship held in Southampton.

Leading the way was Thorne, securing the overall National Grade Four Championship by scoring 64.15, having performed skilfully across all apparatus, and winning the uneven bars competition.

Sharing the podium was Bruun, who collected the all-round bronze award with a score of 63.15, and who dazzled on the floor to win gold.

Teammates Demi Markham came sixth overall and first in the bars competition, while Aimee Lovell came eighth and Sophie Marsden 13th in the same grade. Kendall performed confidently to secure fourth all around in the National Grade Three Championship, while in the same grade, Kaylee Doyle delighted the judges with her artistry on the floor, and came 10th overall.

In the compulsory grades section, talented Bowles performed beautifully at Grade Four, winning both bars and floor apparatus, and securing the bronze award in the overall competition.

In Grade Three, teammate Saunders came first on vault and fifth all-round. Eight-year-old Zennor Tejani, the squad’s youngest competitor, performed ably to secure fourth all-round in the Grade Five competition, and also won the vault apparatus.

Head of Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, Jo Chennell, was delighted with the results and said: “The girls are devoted to their sport and work incredibly hard. I couldn’t be prouder of what they have achieved.”