Bright start to year for gymnastics club

The Campbell Street-based establishment came first at the Burnley Invitational meeting last week.

They finished ahead of a number of much larger clubs from Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The club scooped 36 individual gold medals and boasted three overall champions – Natasha Vickers, Maddi McCarthy and Morgan Whitley.

Head coach and former gymnast Charlotte Coles said: “This is our first competition of 2017 and it was a huge success. For many gymnasts this was their first external competition and it was clear to see that City of Preston were head and shoulders above the rest.

“There were a lot of really big clubs from across the region taking part in the competition so to finish first was a massive achievement.”

Set up in 2005, the club has gone from strength to strength over the past decade. It moved into its present-day home a few years ago and boasts some of the best facilities across Lancashire.

“We have been in our premises in Campbell Street for about five years,” said Coles. “We converted an old warehouse and there must have been about 90 volunteers who helped us move in, from parents, grandparents – even some of the children did some painting.”

The club also operates a feeder group at West View Leisure Centre where beginners can learn the basic skills of gymnastics before progressing.”

In total, the club picked up 54 medals in Burnley.

“It looks like 2017 is going to be another winning year for club,” said Coles.