Gymnasts renew plea for help in providing dedicated new centre

Olivia Inkster performing a bridge as part of her floor routine. Photo: Kevin Jones

Gymnasts have set their sights on training for an inter-island contest due to run in tandem with the 2023 Island Games – while continuing to raise cash for a dedicated gym.

The club is looking to the future after this year’s upheavals, with trips to the mainland earmarked for 2022.

The journey’s south – Covid allowing – are designed to ensure competitors are fit and ready for the games being held in the Channel Islands.

So far a fundraising page has raised over £900 in the hope the club’s long-term aim of securing a new building can finally become reality.

While gymnastics does not feature in the main island games earmarked to take place in Guernsey in July 2023, the discipline has been featured in a contest between island groups.

Organisers hope the inter-island event will take place in Jersey.

It comes after a fundraising page raised over £900 to help make reality the club’s long-term aim of securing a new building.

A target of £6,000 has been set to cover the cost of an appraisal which will help establish the best of two possible Lerwick sites.

The aim is for a feasibility study to duly follow.

The Clickimin centre is seen as unsuitable because it is unable to permanently house the specialist equipment needed for gymnastic training.

Head coach Julie Grant said the new centre – wherever it ends up – will be crucial to helping isles gymnasts progress.

She said squad training had already begun to prepare youngsters for the games earmarked for July 2023.

“This takes a couple of years at least to reach the skill level required to enter.

“This leads on nicely to our big focus of 2022 which will be our site appraisal and then feasibility study for a new purpose built facility.

“We still have our Just Giving crowdfunding page open, and the children would be eternally grateful for any donations made over the festive.”

She said this would allow gymnasts to get “one step closer” to achieving the goal of having their own gym, with all the correct equipment installed.