News release
Monday June 18, 2018
Gymnasts heading to world
championships thanks to James Legal sponsorship
Ten East
Yorkshire girls aged between nine and 14 are excitedly preparing to jet off to
Florida for a trip of a lifetime – but it’s not Disney World or Miami beach
that awaits them, these young athletes are ready to compete with more than
1,000 gymnasts from across the globe at the prestigious IAIGC World
Championships.
The family-run
Sutton Village Gymnastics Club, based in Potterill Lane, Sutton, has had a dual
focus in the past few months, with the coaches and young gymnasts adhering to a
rigorous training routine while members of the club’s fundraising committee were
busy raising money for the trip to America.
Head coach
Danielle Wright, whose parents Dave and Annette set up the thriving club back
in 1996, said: “I’m so proud of the girls, they’ve worked incredibly hard and
have done amazingly well to qualify for this competition. It’s a massive honour
to be able to compete at the Worlds.
“But going to
Florida is expensive. There’s the entry fees, the cost of the flights,
accommodation and food, and also the gym kit that the team wear. We rely on
help from our community and local businesses to be able to get there onto that
world stage and show what young people from a village near Hull are capable
of.”
Hull-based law
firm James Legal was more than happy to support the club with a sponsorship
package. Managing Director Nick Miller said: “At James Legal we believe in
giving something back to our community and we’re pleased to be able to help the
Sutton Village Gymnastic Club achieve their ambitions.
“Everyone here
would like to wish the girls the best of luck, we’ve got our fingers crossed
that they might even return with a few medals.”
The team have
been kitted out with sparkling competition leotards as well as a set of bright
red jackets emblazoned with their sponsors’ logos.
“The support
from our sponsors has been absolutely phenomenal,” added Danielle. “I’d like to
say a huge thank you to our main sponsor James Legal as well as our other
sponsors. We wouldn’t have been going without their help.”
The international
competition gets underway on June 23 and ends on July 1. Nerves are already
jangling in Samantha Russell’s household as daughter Katie, 13, spends her
final training sessions honing her routines before flying out to America.
Sam said: “Katie
made the team two years ago so she knows what to expect, but it’s still a bit
nerve-racking! She’ll be doing vault, floor, beam and bars, it’s an intensive
week but it’s so thrilling and an amazing experience, especially as the level
of competition is so high.
“Everybody has
worked so hard to get here. The coaches are unbelievably dedicated and the
girls have put in an incredible amount of effort. All the parents are really
grateful for the assistance from James Legal and our other sponsors, we
couldn’t have done it without them.”
Succeeding in
this sport requires an impressive amount of commitment. Katie and the rest of
the team typically fit in nine to 11 hours of training a week around their
school work, and coach Danielle, who’s a fashion designer by day, can be found at
the gym almost every evening and weekend.
“Everyone, the
gymnasts, their parents, the coaches, work so hard,” said Danielle. “The girls
have really pulled it out of the bag this year and I’m confident they’ll do
well at the event. It’s wonderful to know so many people are rooting for them.”
The team of
gymnasts heading for Florida comprises: Yasmin Shahar, 12, Chloe Turner, 14,
Megan Dawson, 13, Katie Russell, 13, Ruby Wilson, 11, Kerrianne Turner, nine,
Emie Stamp, 11, Millie Tennison, 11, Ell’h Bailey, 10, and Ellie-Mae Bone, 10.
To contact
Sutton Village Gymnastics Club, ring 01482 707794 or email info@svgym.co.uk
To contact
James Legal, ring 01482 225566 or email info@jameslegal.co.uk
ENDS
Photos
Team photo, top
row from left: Megan Dawson (13), Ruby Wilson (11), Yasmin Shahar (12),
Katie Russell (13), Chloe Turner (14); Bottom row from left: Millie Tennison
(11), Emie Stamp (11), Kerrianne Turner (9), Ellie-Mae Bone (10), Ell’h Bailey
(10)
On the beam: Yasmin Shahar
For further information,
and to arrange photographs or further interviews, please contact Tracy Fletcher
of By Tracy Fletcher Limited PR, on 07983 633385, or via
bytracyfletcher@gmail.com