By Kane Green
Earlestown’s Hope Acrobatic Gymnastics Club were closer to home after recent travels last weekend. Robin Park in Wigan hosted the North West Prelims, the qualifying competition for the NDP British Finals in Stoke-on-Trent in May. With only first place in each grade category qualifying to represent the region in the finals, competition was fierce.
In the IDP2 Women’s Group category, the top level of competition, Mia Ellison, Darcey Cassidy and Daisy Denmade had no rivals in their section, so two clean routines would secure their place at the finals. There was no resting on laurels as they produced two fantastic performances, which were rewarded at the end of the day with the Julie Heslop Shield, awarded to the partnership with the highest Artistry score across the whole competition.
Priya and Ella from Hope Acro in action at the North West Prelims.
While the IDP2 trio’s Artistry impressed the judges, in the Grade 2 Women’s Pair, Isla Healey and Willow Crowther gave a masterclass in technical execution. A score of 27.300 was enough to secure the pair gold with another dominant victory and the Viv Kirkham Trophy for the highest Execution score of the whole day.
The Aspire Women’s Group was the most hotly contested category of the day. With the top six trios separated by only 0.200 on the judges’ scorecards, Hattie Lloyd, Alice Pownall and Alexa Dineen came out on top to take gold, with clubmates Jessica Bithell, Fliss Roberts and Mollie Hughes only 0.100 behind, earning a well-deserved bronze medal.
Isla Cook, Emma Green and Olivia Semmens went into the Grade 4 Women’s Group as favourites after recent victories at Spelthorne and Leeds. They duly obliged; a stunning routine earned them a huge score of 27.050, which carried them well clear at the top of the standings.
Darcey Cassidy, Daisy Denmade and Mia Ellison at the North West Prelims.
Hopes were high for Priya Stott and Ella Dajani in the Grade 3 Women’s Pair after a promising debut showing at Spelthorne recently. The optimism was well-placed as they rose to the occasion with a captivating display. The judges’ scores landed them in first place and, as the last pair to perform, nobody could wrestle a well-deserved gold, or their place in the national finals, from them.
There were further medallists for Hope, with Isobel Stirrup, Jess Lancaster and Rosie Kay taking a lead into the second round of the IDP1 Women’s Group after their Balance routine, but an uncharacteristic slip-up in the Dynamic routine meant they had to settle for silver.
Matilda Dunne, Georgia Wilson and Harper Mines showed great promise in the Grade 2 Women’s Group, winning a popular silver. Eva Booth and Evelyn Tetlow-Waites’ graceful performance in the Grade 4 Women’s Pair saw them top the leaderboard as they left the floor, before eventually being overtaken to take a creditable bronze in a tough category.
Youngsters Lily McLoughlin and Archie Dixon acquitted themselves beautifully as they stepped up to this level of competition for the first time, and were delighted to earn a silver medal in the Grade 1 Mixed Pairs.
With five Hope partnerships qualifying for the national finals with their victories, attention will now turn to preparing to face their rival regional champions in Stoke in May, aiming to be crowned national champions.