Gym Extension 2008

We are now on mark 3 for the extension and have the plans in for approval. The new specification will then be looked at in detail once we have reached this point. It is still our intention to have this open by November.

We are now looking for local firms to support us by donating electrical, painting, plumbing and building materials to help us defray cost of the building. Process Mechanical Limited have already given a unit heater at a vastly reduced price. If you can help or know anyone who might, please contact a member of staff.

Advertise at the Gym

Well over a thousand people each week visit the Keith Whitaker Centre. Do you have a company which would like to advertise its goods or services in the gym? Wall space for advertising is available at a low annual rate.

If interested please contact Bill Smithies.

Cheerleading Group

The United Kingdom Cheerleading Association (UKCA) is now working in partnership with British Gymnastics in order to transfer its activities and become a new discipline of British Gymnastics.

This exciting new venture has been embraced by Diamonds Gymnastics Club with the launch of its very own Cheerleading Squad. The Diamond Divas.

The squad is currently home to 20 gymnasts.

Mention cheerleading to most people and they immediately visualise pom poms and American football - this is certainly where the activity originated but has undergone massive change and development.

It is an exciting, athletic and disciplined activity which is popular worldwide. It incorporates tumbling, acrobatic stunts, dance, jumps, leaps, chants and cheer. These elements are practiced in three distinct sections: Cheerleading - Cheer Dance - Pom Dance.

The club's first venture into the world of Cheerleading took the squad on a fun weekend to the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham to watch the National UKCA CHampionships.

They returned from this trip full of enthusiasm, ideas and ambition. This has enabled them to focus and are now working hard to learn the new skills necessary to enable them to compete at the same championships next year.

School visits to the Gym

The number of schools now using the the gym at the Keith Whitaker Centre continues to grow. North Halifax Grammar, St Catherine's High, Warley Road Primary and Parkinson Lane Primary are all recent users of the facility. In addition the gym continues to host many British Gymnastics Coaching Courses and Clinics and increasingly host training for the Yorkshire Woman's Artistic Squad.

We intend to continue to develop the gym as a centre for education for gymnastics.

Gym Mark

In November 2007, Diamonds GC were awarded Gym Mark by British Gymnastics. The award is the 'kitemark' for gymnastics and acts as a guarantee of a child friendly environment. Many thanks go to Shirley Hendry for her hard work in helping to achieve this award.

Farewell & Thank You

After many years of superb coaching two of our most dedicated coaches have decided to retire from the club.

Sylvia Roper has been for a long number of years a coach at the Foundation Squad at the main gym. She has given hundreds of children a start in their gymnastic careers. Sylvia has always been very supportive in helping young coaches in their first steps on the coaching ladder.
The club were pleased to present Sylvia with a gift to thank her for her service.

Mary Thornton has worked at the Rastrick Foundation Squad for many years. Her career also included coaching with the Display Squad. Mary always gave of her best and has many happy memories of the gymnasts who passed through her classes. Our thanks go out to Mary for all her work at the club.

We hope these two coaches can remain in contact with the club.

Exam Success for Coaches

The club depends on the dedication of an increasing number of coaches. To gain a qualification in coaching a coach has to attend a course organised by British Gymnastics and obtain a pass in the exam. The following coaches are to be congratulated for their achievements:

Chris Short: High Performance Coach - TeamGym
Julie Brumby:Senior Coach - Tumbling
Katy Sellers:Senior Coach -Women's Artistic
Carol Rayner:Club Coach - Pre-School
Gill Schofield:Level 2 - Women's Artistic
Jo Earnshaw:Level 2 - Women's Artistic
Molly Williams:Level 2 - Women's Artistic
Natalie Hill:Level 1 - General Gym
Wayne Ransome:Level 1 - General Gym
Aimee Short:Assistant - Woman's Artistic, Level 1 - Pre-School
Victoria Hendry:Assistant - Women's Artistic
James Burgess:Assistant - Men's Artistic
Trevor Uttley:Assistant - Men's Artistic

The club also welcomes back to coaching Fay Hardcastle (nee Merrick) and Mark Hendry, both ex CSPE gymnasts and coaches. We also welcome Sarah Furley who has joined us from Birmingham Flames.

Christmas Show at Diamonds

This year's Christmas Show was a great success. Almost 600 spectators packed the gym during the 4 shows over the weekend. All of the gymnasts taking part are to be congratulated on their performance. The standard of gymnastics was very god and gave everyone watching a chance to see first hand the wide variety of gymnastic talent we have at the club.

Thanks go to the organisers of this major event especially Jonny Dobson, Carol Rayner, Rachel Allinson and Hayley Murphy.

The club would also like to thank all of the people who supported the event or donated raffle prizes.

Pre-school gymnastics

Early every Monday and Tuesday morning the gym is filled with equipment ready for fun and adventures when the gym is transformed into a jungle, a swamp or the place for a bear hunt for the pre-school gymnasts.

Classes are available for the children from 9 months old up to school age. The aim is to build up the co-ordination skills of the children as well as being an introduction to physical activity. Just as important is the social interaction that the children experience. The popularity of these classes is growing and later on in the year we will be offering an additional day for pre-school gymnasts.

Tumbling

In the National Development Plan Finals 2007 at Stoke on Trent a group of the tumblers from Diamonds contested the medals.

In the 15+ Men's event Tom JOrdan was crowned National CHampion with an excellent performance. His score of 75.1 was some 3.5 in front of his nearest rival as well as being the highest score of the day. Sam Pattinson cruised into 6th place in the Women's 15+ National Grade 1 with some sound tumbling.

In the Women's 15+ National Grade 2 Emma Wilde was rewarded with a bronze medal after a very good series of tumble runs. In the same competition for men Stephen Finch finished just outside the medals in 4th place in a closely fought competition.

In the Yorkshire Tumbling Championships at Barnsley Metrodome in October 2007 the following tumbling results were achieved:

Regional A         Hannah Calligan       Gold

Regional C         Adele Standring       Gold

Regional D         Hannah Pilkington     Gold

                   Darcey Sutcliffe      Silver

                   Eden Mellor           Bronze

National 1 U12's   Alicia Haycock        Bronze

12-14              Sophie Crawford       Gold

                   Rebecca Mallas        Gold

                   Jessica Leggett       Bronze

15+                Katie Huck            Gold

National 2 15+     Thomas Jordan         Gold

National 3 15+     James Burgess         Gold

                   Stephen Finch         Silver

Men's Artistic Gymnastics

In 2007, six boys gained selection to the Yorkshire Team which competed in the NDP National Finals. They were Antony Sykes, Tom Uttley, Ryan Davies, George Marshall, Tom Noble and Ashley Redman. They all had a good competition and gained a lot of experience for the future.

AT the end of the year four boys were selected as members of the Yorkshire Squad and they are Nathan Edden, George Marshall, Tom Noble and Alex Hanson. Well done.

14 boys are representing the club in the forthcoming Yorkshire NDPs and a further 24 are competing in a competition in Rotherham. For many this will be their fist competitive experience.