Clondalkin gymnasts back with a bang

CLONDALKIN Gymnas-tics Club Chairperson, Julia Toomey was over the moon to see a number of the club’s members back in action at their much-anticipated Gymfest.

The event, which had been postponed no less than four times because of Covid restrictions, finally got underway at the National Basketball Arena earlier this month.

More than 300 gymnasts travelled from all over the country to take part with some 650 spectators cheering them on.

“It was amazing” said Toomey. “We’ve had to cancel that four times over two years and the gymnasts were just buzzing to be at an event again.

“We’re delighted with the way it went, it couldn’t have been better.

“It’s the biggest event we’ve ever held and that’s only the second time we’ve held a gymfest. We host acro and tumbling competitions, but we’d only held one gymfest the year before Covid” she explained.

And there was plenty for the host club to celebrate at the 2022 event, with their own Precision Display Squad achieving the highest score of the day to be crowned Senior Champions.

“It was a great achievement for the 16 girls on the team who, for months during the lockdowns, were not able to train indoors and, at times, they trained outdoors in a car park to keep up their fitness and skills.

“Their dedication and perseverance paid off as they were crowned Senior Champions 2022.

“We’re now hoping to have an acro competition in April, so we’re just planning that at the moment.

“Because the restrictions are really only lifting now, we couldn’t plan too far ahead, but Precision [Display Team] would definitely be looking to do an international before the end of the year if things stay the way they are now” she added.