The St Albans and District Gymnastic Club (SAADI) squad posted outstanding results at last weekend’s Hertfordshire Gymnastics Association (HGA) Recreational Grades competition held at Marriott’s School, Stevenage.

The day saw gymnasts from clubs throughout Hertfordshire competing for HGA Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4.

In the first part of the Grade 1 competition there were 27 gymnasts and, as it was the very first County competition in which the youngsters had taken part, SAADI Gym Club was proud to feature three of their gymnasts in the top nine overall scores, with SAADI’s youngest entry ever, six year-old Clara Suss Franksen from Harpenden, coming eleventh. The girls also produced good results on all four pieces of equipment, Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor, with seven year-old Julia Moss from St Albans achieving the 2nd highest score on Bars.

Kate Alexander gained fourth on Vault, fifth on Floor and eighth overall; Amy Ryall gained fourth on Bars, seventh on Beam and ninth overall; Lucy Savage gained fifth on Beam and seventh overall and Delphi McGee came 16th.

Exceptional results were achieved in the Grade 2 competition, when nine year-old SAADI gymnast Natasha Lane got the highest score of 13.10 on Beam, highest score on Bars, third on Floor and the talented youngster gained the highest overall score of the whole competition. Eleven year-old Katie Cross from Harpenden also accomplished excellent results, achieving the second highest score on Vault, fourth on Beam, third on Floor and had the third highest score overall out of 31 competitors.

Hannah Brooke gained fifth on Bars and ninth overall; Lizzie Weatherhead gained eighth on Vault and 14th overall and Carmen Bourne gained sixth on Vault and 13th overall.

In the more difficult Grade 3 competition, 10 year-old Juliet Godley from St Albans came seventh on Vault, fifth on Beam, third on Floor and eighth overall out of 32 competitors.

Club leader, Penny Collins said: “The competitions went well and the coaches who took the girls round were really pleased with their performances and their competition conduct. To finish first and third in the HGA2 competition is a fantastic reward for all the hard work put in by both the gymnasts and the coaches involved”

SAADI has been delivering outstanding gymnastics coaching in Hertfordshire since 1975 and Collins explained that exciting developments will ensure that this success will continue for years to come.

“SAADI takes pride in its team of high quality coaches, trained and mentored by Jim Aldridge, and this exceptional standard has led to a high demand for places,” she said.

“To reflect this demand we have increased the number of classes held on Saturday afternoons at the Redbourn Recreation centre and will also be opening a Recreational Club on Saturday mornings from April 26.

“The new recreation club will enable both boys and girls to benefit from a SAADI structured coaching programme, facilitating a fast track system for the girls through to the afternoon SAADI competitive club.”