Members of Natimuk and District Gymnastic Club competed in junior Victorian championships at Geelong across the past two weekends, with Elsa Drendel making club history as the first female gymnast to win first place overall, placing her as the level five division three state champion.

It was the first experience on the big stage at the championships for Elsa and other level five gymnasts, Isla Barron and Madeline Castleman, who also enjoyed success. 

Elsa placed third on beam and bars, and fourth on vault. Isla achieved some personal best routines, and Madeline placed sixth on vault.  

Level three gymnasts Isla Lannin, Evelyn Henderson, Ava Hausler, Layla Glatz and Matilda Stanley placed first on vault, second on beam, third on floor and fourth on bars, awarding them second place overall.

Thirteen Natimuk club gymnasts qualified for the junior state championships, including level seven gymnast Karla Arthur and level four competitors Ava Rabone, Phoebe Burns, Jayda Hallam and Grace Puls. 

The Junior Victorian championships coincided with the Southern Cross Classic, an invitational competition for gymnasts on the high-performance pathway in women’s and men’s artistic gymnastics.

The club’s Remi Bailey and Edward Jones competed in the event, where Remi placed third on floor, rings and high bar, fourth on parallel bars, fifth on pommel and fourth overall. Edward placed second on vault, third on parallel bars, fourth on pommel and rings, and fifth on floor, high bar and overall.

Invitational this weekend

Head coach Lynette Morrow said the club was expecting 300 gymnasts from across Victoria and South Australia for its invitational competition this weekend. 

“It will be an end-of-season competition for everyone,” she said.

“We will have level one to nine girls competing on vault, uneven bars, beam and floor. It’s also a level award test for the girls, where they can upgrade.

“Boys from levels one to six will compete on floor, pommel, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar.”

Mrs Morrow said people were welcome to watch gymnasts aged from five up to 18 years in the competition.

“The senior girls compete from 8am on Saturday and the boys from 8.30am on Sunday, with all other competitors to follow.

“Our canteen will be open and there is lots of spectator room.”

Mrs Morrow said the seniors’ competition season starts again in February, while the juniors would start competitions mid through next year.

“We are looking forward to a good, strong competition,” she said. 

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