The competitive squad from the new Norfolk Academy of Gymnastics at Besthorpe put on a great display over the last two weekends at Ipswich for the regional grades competitions.

The competitive squad from the new Norfolk Academy of Gymnastics at Besthorpe put on a great display over the last two weekends at Ipswich for the regional grades competitions.

At the regional finals for the club grade events TNAG were represented by Summer-Jade Kenzitt and Chloe White (Grade 2) and Polina Polyakova (Grade 4). Polina finished a creditable 12th, passing her grade with distinction in her first-ever regional competition.

Chloe passed Grade 2 by over

four marks, and Summer-Jade did fantastically well to finish in fifth, which means she will be the travelling reserve for the east region's team for the national finals in Birmingham in April.

Sunday saw the competition for those gymnasts taking the Elite Grades. Lucy Jarvis contested the Compulsory Grade 4 competition, while Angel Kenzitt and Emily Crowe competed at Grade 3.

Lucy had an excellent competition, on her ninth birthday, going cleanly through all of her routines to comfortably pass the Grade and finish in a superb fourth. She has therefore qualified for the east region team, and will be the first TNAG gymnast to represent the region at national finals.

The Compulsory Grade 3 field was exceptionally strong. Overall, Angel scored a total of 58.675 to finish seventh and will be entitled to represent TNAG at the national finals. Emily finished in a stunning fifth place with 59.375, making her the reserve for the East Region's team at the national finals, although (save for injury to one of the four team members) she will also compete for TNAG in those finals.

Head coach Sara-Jane Inglis said: “It is amazing that, so soon after opening our Academy, we already have a number of girls who are not only attending the regionals and holding their own, but also fighting for the higher placings and the regional teams.”