FOUR talented trampolinists from Haslingden High School secured their team place in a national final after winning the Northern competition in North Shields.
Antonia Cursurca, Aden Ramsay, Megan Robertson and Ruby Healey, all 13, will now compete as Year 7-9 Girls’ Novice winners at the national final at Derby Arena on March 15.
As Megan was also first and Ruby fourth in the individual competition, they will also compete as individuals in the national final, Antonia just missed out as she was placed fifth.
The students all train at Fearns Trampoline Club that meets at The Valley Leadership Academy and some practise up to three times a week.
The British Schools’ Gymnastics Competition Northern Zonal final was held at Temple Park Leisure Centre so the local competitors had a two-hour drive before they got to compete.
There faced 18 individuals and nine teams.
Megan, who has been trampolining at the club for nearly 10 years, said: “We had to do two routines, a set and a voluntary. My voluntary routine got a higher score because I did a higher tariff.”
As well as being judged on their execution of their manoeuvres, they are also assessed on how much they travel out of a marked box on the trampoline.
Ruby said: “I have only been trampolining for about three years and I enjoy the thrill of it. If I am stressed out, I go on the trampoline and it takes everything away.”
For Aden, it was only her second competition as she was unable to make the NorthWest final in Wigan in November, In South Shields she came 14th in the individual but will be representing Haslingden in the team competition.
She said: “On my set routine I added a half twist but it was something I was supposed to do in my voluntary.”
Although Ruby and Megan are very excited about being in the final, Antonia and Aden admitted they felt scared as they found it intimidating having so many people watching them.
Haslingden High Sixth Form student Halle Walden, 17, attends Bury Trampoline Club and had won a place at the Northern Zonal final after coming third in the Year 10-14 Advanced competition in Wigan.
Unfortunately, she could not compete as she ended up in hospital after spraining her knee while training the day before the competition.
She has been trampolining for eight years and was previously a gymnast so had transferable skills.
Halle said: “I just love the sport and just feel free when I am trampolining.”
In 2023 she came third as an individual in the intermediate competition, her team was second and so went through to the final when they came fourth. She hopes to compete again later this year.
Fearns coach Beverley Hornby was delighted with the success of all her students.
She said: “I also have three other children who qualified Clara, age 10, came first and her little brother James came second, they are both at St Paul’s in Rawtenstall, and Tom at Greenmount primary came first.”