Acrobatic gymnasts Valentine Tutcher, Jes Kennaway and Shaylee Moore returned to Honiton as British Champions this weekend after taking the national title in the girls’ trio event.
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The acrobatic group - who train over 13 hours per week at Honiton gymnastics Club - beat the best of the rest from the throughout the UK to take the top accolade, winning their event by over half a mark.
The girls were competing in the national acrobatic gymnastics finals in Stoke on Trent, following victory in the south west championships in March and excellent results in their first two international competitions.
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Shaylee, 15, goes to Honiton Community College, Jes, 14, goes to Kings School in Ottery St Mary, and Valentine, 12, attends The Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis.
Helen Nayler, high performance coach at Honiton Gym Club, said: "There have been so many highlights this year, but this success has to top them all. And it was such a proud moment when the girls stood on the podium and were named British Champions. It can be easy to forget how much hard work it has taken to get to this stage - from all the girls and the coaches at the club - but they have put in so many hours, and their gold medals were the perfect reward for their endeavours."
Valentine, Shaylee and Jes performed two routines at the weekend. The first, a 'dynamic' somersault routine saw the two older girls throwing Valentine in the air for somersaults and twisting elements, and the second involved them balancing her above their heads in handstand positions. Combined with their striking music, sharp choreography and well-executed tumbling elements, the girls proved that they were a cut above the rest.
