Fantastic year for Sika Gymnastics as they are crowned NI Champions

Not only did every gymnast bring home a medal, but the combined scores of the team saw them secure the cup and officially be crowned the champions of Northern Ireland for 2014.

The team, made up of 19 girls and two boys, had qualified back in March for the Championships and have been working hard on gaining new skills and perfecting routines in the build up to this competition, and their hard work certainly paid off for them all.

“It’s great to have all of their hard work rewarded and the club is very proud of all the gymnasts who took part in these championships,” a spokesperson for the club told Times Sport.

“To become the Northern Ireland Floor and Vault Champions is just wonderful for our club!”

The team saw off stiff competition from clubs all around Northern Ireland and were delighted to be top of the podium ahead of Excel Gymnastics of Newry in second place and Carrickfergus Gym Club in third.

The following weekend Sika were again out in force with seven other little gymnasts taking part in the 4piece, Vault, Bars, Beam and Floor N.I Championships hosted at Twisters Gymnastics in Derry.

Again the gymnasts did their club proud with each girl medalling and four winning All Around titles!

Leah Hanson became the Level 3 Northern Ireland Champion 2014 but what made winning the title even more impressive was the fact the Sika girls had a clean swipe of the All Around podium with Rianna Robinson and Rebecca McClean picking up the silver and bronze respectively.

Kerry Rose Draine also picked up a silver All Around title in the younger age group.

“The girls performed wonderfully for their first N.I. Championships and between the seven of them they are bringing home a whopping 22medals!

“We couldn’t be prouder of them,” added the spokesperson.

And what a proud year it has been for Sika - the club now has a Northern Ireland All Around Champion in every discipline of Women’s gymnastics from Floor and Vault Team Champions right through to an Artistic Northern Ireland Champion, which is a fantastic achievement.

2014 can only be described as a wonderful success for Sika.