THE BOLTON GYM CLUB FLOOR & VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS........     Following on from the success of the 4 piece competitors earlier in the month the floor and vault gymnasts sent the 2006 competition year out on a high note with a bang.  Rochdale Olympic Gymnastics Club Members of the Boys and Girls Squads descended on Bolton Arena to compete in the final event of the year at the Bolton Gym Club Floor and Vault Championships, 2006.  65 gymnasts attended from the club and brought home awards amounting to 9 Individual Overall Champions and a 101 medal tally of 26 gold, 34 silver and 31 bronze.  A highly successful day to finish the years events with Elizabeth Dudley, Emma Hayden, Dayna Hesketh, Aimee Henshall, Melissa Collins, Sam Owen, Adam Watson, Alex Leigh and Gregory Lund were all crowned overall individual champions in their respective age groups.     Girls Level 1 Under 5 - Grace Elcock 2nd Vault, Jessica Connor 2nd Floor 2nd Overall Girls Level 1 Under 6 - Abigail Fielding 3rd Floor, 3rd Overall Girls Level 2 Under 7 - Dayna Hesketh 3rd Floor 1st Vault 1st Overall, Emily Cockcroft 3rd Vault 3rd Overall Girls Level 2 Under 8 - Melissa Collins 2nd Floor 1st Vault 1st Overall, Hannah Riley 2nd Vault 3rd Overall, Sian Hall 3rd Vault Girls Level 2 Under 10 - Elizabeth Dudley 1st Floor 3rd Vault 1st Overall Girls Level 2 Under 11 - Zoe Carter 2nd Vault 1st Floor 2nd Overall Girls Level 3 Under 9 - Brooke Sandilands 2nd Floor 3rd Overall Girls Level 3 Over 12 - Lucy Clayton 3rd Vault Girls Level 4 Under 10 - Emma Hayden 1st Floor 2nd Vault 1st Overall, Emily Slide 1st Floor 3rd Vault 2nd Overall, Natalie Briggs 3rd Floor, 2nd Vault, 3rd Overall, Megan O’Shea 3rd Floor, 3rd Vault, 3rd Overall, Gabrielle Southern 3rd Floor 2nd Vault, Danielle Parkinson 1st Vault Girls Level 4 Over 10 - Aimee Henshall 1st Floor 2nd Vault 1st Overall, Ashleigh Linkman 2nd Floor 3rd Vault 2nd Overall, Madalyn Payne 3rd Floor 3rd Overall And the boys were on fine form too...... Boys Level 2 Under 8 - Dominic Bunner 2nd Vault 3rd Floor 2nd Overall, John Figg 3rd Vault 2nd Floor 3rd Overall, Sam Bamford 1st Floor, Ewan Giles 2nd Floor, Cole Bamford 3rd Floor Boys Level 3 Under 10 - Sam Owen 1st Floor 2nd Vault 1st Overall, Morgan Payne 3rd Floor 1st Vault 2nd Overall, Joe Owen 2nd Floor 3rd Overall, Scott France 3rd Floor 3rd Vault, Luke Bolton 2nd Floor Boys Level 2 Under 10 - Ben Fletcher 3rd Floor, 1st Vault 2nd Overall, Nathan Aston 2nd Floor Boys Level 2 Over 10 - Lewis Bunting 2nd Vault 3rd Overall, Billy Gallagher 3rd Vault Boys Level 3 Over 10 - Adam Watson 1st Floor 1st Vault 1st Overall, Dexter Dickinson 3rd Floor 3rd Vault 3rd Overall, Ben Hay 2nd Vault, William Lishman 3rd Vault Boys Level 4 Under 12 - Alex Leigh 1st Floor 2nd Vault 1st Overall, Caryl Agard 2nd Floor 1st Vault 2nd Overall, George Clayton 3rd Floor 3rd Overall, Harry Clayton 3rd Vault Boys Level 4 Over 12 - Gregory Lund 1st Floor 1st Overall, Adam Barrett 3rd Floor 1st Vault 2nd Overall, Cameron Hay 2nd Floor 3rd Overall, Max Aspinall 2nd Vault, Edward Codd 3rd Vault     Other competitors were Leona O'Neill, Leonah Ellis, Chloe Thompson, Eleysha Jackson, Lucy Birch, James Davies, Daniel Taylor, Abigail Jones, Tanicha Ellis, Charlotte Bowman, Sophie Fenton, William Lishman, Ryan Bolton, Matthew Price, Bethany Cockcroft, Sophie Wells, Sarah Buckley, Emily Martin. The gymnasts at the club will have a well earned rest over the Xmas period as they have been fundraising for the whole year towards the installation of a new floor at the club premises which will be installed over the festive season.   Many successes have come the club's way this year and we now look forward to the 2007 competition season with interest for all our members.

	THE NORTH WEST GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION NOVICE & LEVEL 4,3, & 2 OUT OF AGE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS........   North West Overall Individual Champions - Sabrina Birchenough, Eloise Hayward, Connie Briggs North West Vault Champions - Emma Holmes, Georgia Hall, Connie Briggs North West Bars Champions - Eloise Hayward, Connie Briggs North West Beam Champion - Sabrina Birchenough North West Floor Champions - Saberina Birchenough, Nicola Bridge With the end of the 2006 gymnastic competition season fast approaching, Rochdale Olympic Gymnastics Club has enjoyed another busy year from club to national level and has had an outstanding year of achievements.  The 4 piece competition gymnasts closed a memorable competitive year in style.  The last competition of the 2006 season for the 4 piece gymnasts saw them in action in Wigan, taking part in the North West Gymnastics Association Novice, Level 4 and Level 3 Out Of Age Individual Championships, 2006, held at Robin Park Arena. Eleanor Briggs got the weekend off to a good start competing in the Novice Under 8 section in her first four piece competition.  Narrowly missing out on medals on Vault (4th 11.50), and Floor (5th 13.7), Eleanor had a steady performance to finish in 8th position overall (46.750). The Novice Under 10 event saw Emma Holmes, Gabriella Wright and Amy Noon in action.  Emma Holmes had a great competition to finish in 3rd position overall (51.750), helped by a super score on Vault (12.30) to be crowned the North West Vault Champion. Zoe Blackstone narrowly missed out on the overall title in the Novice Under 12 section finishing in 2nd place overall (52.20), just 0.1 of a mark behind the eventual winner.  Zoe added a bronze medal to her tally finishing in 3rd on Beam (13.45).  In the same age group Hannah Casey was awarded 3rd on Bars (12.750), and Rheann Newsham was 3rd on Floor (14.45).  Hannah had a steady competition to finish in 8th position overall (50.550). Sabrina Birchenough was crowned the North West Novice Under 14 Overall Individual Champion with apparatus scores tallying a total of (52.215).  Sabrina also picked up the North West titles on Beam (14.033), and Floor (14.666) finishing in 1st place on both apparatus, and added a bronze for her vault (11.866).  Charlotte Wood competed along side Sabrina and finished in 2nd place on bars (12.20). Eloise Hayward had a fantastic competition to earn herself the North West Novice Over 14 Overall Individual Champion title, picking up the bars title along the way.  Eloise earned a medal on every piece of apparatus finishing 2nd Vault (11.633), 1st Bars (10.95), 2nd Beam (12.466), 3rd Floor (14.20), to earn top spot individually (49.249). The Level 4 Juniors & Seniors competed in separate competitions.  Jessica Gilchrist & Elyse Murray took on the Junior section with Elyse earning 3rd spot individually with a total score of 46.849, and Jessica finishing 11th (44.949).  Elyse collected 2 silver medals to add to her 3rd place overall, finishing 2nd on Vault (12.00), and 2nd Floor (12.733).  Robyn Hume 4th (46.116), and Georgia Hall 5th (46.100) added to the medals in the Senior section.  Robyn had a super beam routine to start her competition which earned her 2nd place (11.966), and Georgia was crowned the North West Vault Champion taking the gold medal (12.200). The Level 3 gymnasts rounded off the year with some excellent performances.  In a very tough and close fought event Connie Briggs, Faye Padden and Nicola Bridge all had great competitions to round off their 2006 season.  Connie Briggs pulled out all the stops and eventually emerged the North West Level 3 Champion amassing a score of 50.783 marks.  Faye Padden finished 3rd overall (47.916), with Nicola close behind in 4th (47.6815).  The Rochdale girls took 3 out of the 4 apparatus titles on offer with Connie now the North West Champion on Vault (13.10), and Bars (11.95), and Nicola Bridge winning the floor competition to take the North West Title in 1st place with (13.066).  Nicola and Connie also collected a medal each for their clean beam performances with Nicola 3rd (12.466), and Connie 2nd (12.833). The new year will bring new challenges for these gymnasts, and for others in the club their competition year will end with their final event to take place at Bolton Arena on 17th December, 2006.

	MORE COACHING QUALIFICATIONS........   Jessica and Victoria Walsh have been coaching in the boys squad one night a week for some time now and both recently succeeded in passing their Mens Artistic Assistant Club Coaching Examinations.  Well done to both.  Meanwhile our new starters on the coaching ladder - Lois Howard, Victoria Abbott, Jemma Hayes, Sabrina Birchenough and Lucia Thorley all attended a British Gymnastics Helpers Award Course.  This gave them an insight into their first steps as coaches and all are progressing in the gym.

	THE ISLE OF MAN INVITATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS........   Two teams of gymnasts braved the November seas and travelled to Douglas to compete in the Isle of Man Invitational Team Championships held at Manx Gymnastics Centre of Excellence. The 12 & Under Team of Elyse Murray, Jessica Gilchrist, Emma Holmes, Mary Elcock & Robyn Hume returned home with bronze medals as they took 3rd place with a combined team total of 184.40 marks.  Individually Mary was top scorer finishing in 9th position (46.00), Robyn 11th (45.7), Jessica 15th (45.4), with Elyse and Emma finishing in 18th both with scores of 45.00 Individual apparatus medals were awarded and Elyse was awarded 1st place for her vault (11.9), closely followed by Mary in 2nd (11.8).  3rd place on beam was awarded to Robyn (13.05). The 14 & Under team had a superb competition and with 4 of the gymnasts finishing in the top 10 were crowned the Team Champions and returned home with the gold medals and the team shield.  Connie Briggs performed clean routines across all 4 pieces of apparatus to finish in top spot individually with her highest score this year (51.4).  Faye Padden rose to the challenge and had a super event finishing in 3rd position overall (48.95).  These two, joined by team members Sabrina Birchenough 7th (46.65), Nicola Bridge 9th (46.55), and Georgia Hall 11th (45.9), put on a great team effort to win the event. Apparatus medals were awarded to Connie Briggs 1st Bars (11.9), 2nd Beam (13.3), 2nd Floor (13.3),  Faye Padden 2nd Bars (11.8), 2nd Floor (12.8), and Nicola and Georgia shared 3rd position on bars (11.2)

	THE KENT OPEN CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS........   This year, due to lack of entries, the Kent Gymnastics Association has had to take the unfortnate decision of cancelling this annual event.   The girls were working superbly towards this and are very disappointed.  Next year the competition will return to its usual spot and will be held in June, 2007.

	THE WESTVIEW FLOOR & VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS........   The floor and vault gymnasts from the Rochdale Olympic Gymnastics Club Girls Squad travelled to Preston to compete in the annual Westview Weekend of Gymnastics held at Westview Leisure Centre. An early start for Kirsty Armitage on the first day of competition gave the club a great start to another successful competition.  Kirsty competed in the Under 5 section and earned top spot on both Floor (7.65), and Vault (8.5), earning the individual overall title with a combined score of 16.15 marks. Elizabeth Brown followed in the Uner 6's earning 3rd place on Vault (18.195), just finishing outside the overall medal positions in 4th place overall (18.195). The Rochdale girls took a clean sweep of the overall medal positions in the Under 7 section with Ruby Hume being crowned the champion (17.9), closely followed by Fiona Payton in 2nd (17.4), and Megan Knox in 3rd (17.35).  All 3 medals were also taken on the Floor with Ruby 1st (8.7), Megan 2nd (8.2), and Fiona 3rd (7.8).  Fiona took top spot on Vault (9.6), and Hannah Riley earned her first competition medal finishing 3rd on Vault (9.25). The Under 8 section saw Cassandra Iberson have her usual steady competition performances finishing 2nd on Floor (9.5), 3rd on Vault (9.0), earning her 2nd position overall with a total score of 18.5 marks.  In the same competition Niamh Gillan earned 3rd on Floor (9.45). In the Under 9 section Emily Slide and Chloe Nolan shared the silver medal on vault (9.45), closely followed by Gabrielle Southern in 3rd place (9.4), competing in her first competition. Ashleigh Linkman made a return to competition in the Under 10 section finishing in 2nd position overall (18.85), aided by a super 9.6 score for her vault giving her 1st place on that apparatus.  Madalyn Payne finished in 3rd place on Floor (9.375), in the same age group. Other competitors were:- Leonah Ellis, Amy Briggs, Charlotte Bowman-Welsh, Sian Hall, Tanicha Ellis, Emily Martin, Lucy Birch, Sarah Buckley, Megan O'Shea, Emma Hayden, Danielle Parkinson, Elizabeth Dudley, Eleysha Jackson, Zoe Carter, Jessica Wilkinson, Cleary Rollason.

	THE NWGA NOVICE, LEVEL 4 & LEVEL 3 OUT OF AGE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2006.............   FOR THE 2ND YEAR RUNNING ROCHDALE O.G.C. GYMNASTS BRING HOME ALL 3 NORTH WEST TEAM TITLES ON OFFER........ 5 Teams from Rochdale OGC travelled to the Birchwood Leisure Complex, Warrington to compete in the annual North West Gymnastics Association Novice, Level 4 & Level 3 Out of Age Team Championships, 2006. The club entered 3 teams in the Novice section of the days procedings and Team 1 of Mary Elcock (Vault 11.9), Zoe Blackstone (Bars 12.35), Emma Holmes (Beam 12.90), and Sabrina Birchenough (Floor 14.05), emerged the victors with a team total of 51.2 marks and were crowned the North West Novice Team Champions.  The team performed admirably and this title was won with individual performances resulting in 1st placings on Vault, Bars and Beam, and a 2nd place on the Floor. Team 3 of Hayley Briggs (Vault 10.95), Lauren Burke (Bars 12.10), Rheann Newsham (Beam 11.9), and Gabriella Wright (Floor 13.70), accumulated a team total of 48.65, and collected the bronze medal placing. Rheann finished in 2nd place on the beam, and Lauren earned =3rd place for her bar routine. Team 2 consisted of Victoria Stanton (Vault 11.80), Hannah Casey (Bars 12.10), Eloise Hayward (Beam 10.20), and Gemma Deakin (Floor 12.40) totalled 46.50 for their team score and earned 5th place overall.  Victoria earned 2nd spot for her vault, and Hannah earned =3rd for her performance on the bars. The Level 4 Out Of Age Team Event followed with a brand new team and 2 of the team members competing this level for the 1st time.  Georgia Hall (43.65), Elyse Murray (43.50), Jessica Gilchrist (44.20) and Robyn Hume (20.05) worked their way round the competition well together and amassed a team total score of 131.60 to take the title of North West Level 4 Out of Age Team Champions for 2006, with apparatus scores of Vault (34.50), Bars (32.50), Beam (28.70) and Floor (35.90).  Jessica finished in 2nd position overall, and earned 3rd placings on bars and beam, whilst Georgia earned 2nd spot on vault and Elyse took two 1st placings on bars and floor. The Level 3 Team of Brenda Hilton (38.175), Nicola Bridge (44.90), Connie Briggs (47.30), and Faye Padden (44.35), competed well to become North West Level 3 Out of Age Team Champions to round off the day with a final team tally of 137.10 marks (Vault 35.30, Bars 32.90, Beam 30.65, Floor 38.25), in preparation for the forthcoming Kent Open Club Team Championships to be held at Mote Park Leisure Centre in Maidstone in November.

	THE ALPHA FACTOR UK INVITATIONAL, 2006. OUR FIRST COMPETITION ON THE NEW CODE............   Five gymnasts from the girls squad travelled down to Melksham to compete in the annual Alpha Factor UK Invitational held at Wiltshire School of Gymnastics.  Our first competition on the new code and 4 out of the 5 girls competing at a higher level than they had done before. The first day of competition saw Faye Padden compete at Level 3 in her age group for the first time.  Faye competed with great enthusiasm and determination which earned her four second placings.  At the conclusion of the competition a total score of 45.500 marks gave her 2nd place overall, and an excellent all round competition resulted in 2nd on Vault (11.15), 2nd on Beam (11.10), and 2nd on Floor (12.50). Georgia Hall competed at Level 4 for the first time in a very tough competition, and with the help of a superb bar routine earned 3rd place overall with a total score of 45.00.  A 1st place on bars was inevitable (12.3), and a clean beam routine earned 3rd place (10.65). Brenda Hilton, along with newcomers to the level Nicola Bridge and Connie Briggs competed in the Level 3 section.  Brenda had a steady competition across all 4 pieces of apparatus to finish in 6th position (39.85).  Nicola Bridge had an outstanding competition to finish in 3rd place overall (45.975). Her first 4 piece competition following a serious injury last year she worked with complete determination to get her routines through with many new moves to her, and also earned 2nd on Floor (12.85), and 2nd on Beam (11.7).  A great start to get herself back on track in readiness for competitions to come in the remainder of the year.  Connie Briggs earned top spot overall with a score tally of 47.975 to take her to 1st place over a full mark ahead of 2nd place.  Four steady performances on all apparatus resulted in a top 3 finish on all 4 apparatus, finishing 1st on Vault (12.275), 3rd on Bars (10.90), 1st on Beam (11.8), 1st on Floor (13.00). A great competition for the club and the gymnasts and a good start to competing on the new rules.  This should put them in good stead for the forthcoming North West Gymnastics Association Team Competitions to be held in Warrington in 2 weeks time.

	JUDGES QUALIFY AT EXAMINATION ON THE NEW CODE........   A recent judging exam resulted in a 100% pass rate for the clubs Womens Artistic Judges.  Having attended the first judging course to be run on the new code, many an hour was spent with noses stuck in the code of points leading upto the examination.  Caroline Casey and Brenda Hilton re-qualified at Club Judge.  Kevin Walker and Richard Wright joined them in successfuly passing their first Club Judging qualification, whilst Francesca Gordon and David Elcock tackled the Regional examination and both attained the qualification.  Well done to all and don't worry we will be calling upon your services !!

	WINGATES & THE ROCHDALE OGC INVITATIONAL FLOOR & VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS...   R.O.G.C. - BRING THE TEAM TROPHY BACK HOME FOR THE 4TH YEAR RUNNING !!! Off we set on Friday night with a mob of 50 for the 4th year running, and the youngest set of gymnasts we had took on this residential weekend away at the Wingates Special Childrens Trust, Wrenbury.  Before the competition day arrived on the Sunday we had a fantastic weekend, and the kids were a credit to everyone who knows them, their coaches, family members, and themselves. They were superb for the whole weekend.  Competition day arrived on the Sunday and once again we were not to be disappointed.  Gymnasts from CMIG, Vernon Park, Bolton, Bury, Wingates, and Salford joined us for our annual competition and all had a good day. The Rochdale OGC gymnasts went all out to take the team trophy back home again and a lot of superb individual performances assured this for the club once again. The day got off to an excellent start with the Under 8 gymnasts and ROGC girls took a clean sweep of the overall medals with Eleanor Briggs 1st (18.35), Amy Briggs 2nd (18.225), and Fiona Payton 3rd (18.000).  Eleanor took gold on vault (9.15), and silver on floor (9.2), Amy took the gold on floor (9.275), and bronze on vault (8.95), and Fiona added another bronze for her floor routine (9.1).  Melissa Collins earned a silver medal on vault (9.1). Cassandra Iberson took the Under 9 competition by storm collecting 3 gold medals for floor (9.175), vault (9.5), and winning overall (18.675).  Heather Waterhouse collected her first set of medals for the club with 3rd on floor (8.9), finishing 2nd overall (17.9).  In the Under 12 section Jessica Wilkinson vaulted her way to 3rd place (9.05). Megan Kirby had a teriffic day in the Under 6 section winning the overall title (17.85), silver on vault (8.9), gold on floor (8.95), and the trophy for the most artistic floor routine of the age group. Natalie Briggs performed to her usual standard and topped the Under 10 section (18.6), taking 1st on vault (9.5), and 2nd on floor (9.1).  Leona O'Neill finished in 3rd position overall (18.3), and added another bronze for her vault (9.3).  Megan O'Shea earned 3rd on floor (9.05).  Rochdale's only competitor in the Under 11 event, Madalyn Payne, finished 3rd overall (18.3), and took home a silver for her vault (9.4). The Under 7 gymnasts rounded off a successful weekend with Leona Coglan totalling 18.175 to collect 3rd place overall, and also took a silver on vault (9.25).  Dayna Hesketh finished 3rd on floor (9.025), and Elizabeth Brown earned silver on the same piece of apparatus (9.2), and also collected the award for the most artistic floor routine of the age group. The Salford girls gave the Rochdale girls a tight run for the team championship trophy but at the end of the day the top 8 scoring girls from Rochdale just pipped them to the title, and brought home the team trophy for the 4th year running.  The 8 contributing gymnasts amalgamated a total team tally of 146.725 marks, with Cassandra Iberson (18.675), Natalie Briggs (18.6), Eleanor Briggs (18.35), Leona O'Neill (18.3), Madalyn Payne (18.3), Amy Briggs, (18.225), Leona Coglan (18.175), Megan O'Shea (18.1). Other competitors were:-  Ruby Hume, MeganKnox, Charlotte Bowman-Welsh, Hannah Riley, Tanicha Ellis, Sian Hall, Emily Martin, Louise Smith, Sarah Buckley, Abbi Grindrod, Sophie Wells, Brooke Sandilands, Lucy Birch, Bethany France, Cleary Rollason, Leah Connolly, Elizabeth Dudley, Eleysha Jackson, Leonah Ellis, Emily Cockcroft.

	THE NWGA FLOOR & VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS...   R.O.G.C. - THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS !!! Following huge success in the recent Greater Manchester Floor & Vault Championships, the clubs gymnast travelled across the road to Matthew Moss High School in high spirits to compete in the North West Floor & Vault Championships, and they did not disappoint.  The club now boasts 7 newly crowned Regional Floor & Vault Champions. Cole Bamford (Pre-Novice Under 6), Joe Owen (Pre-Novice Under 8), Scott France (Novice), Kirsty Armitage (Pre-Novice Under 6), Fiona Payton (Pre-Novice Under 8), Emily Slide (Novice Age 9), Rheann Newsham (Intermediate Under 11), all performed superbly to take the overall titles in their respective age categories, and become 2006 North West Floor & Vault Champions.  Fiona, Emily and Joe, made it two in a row as three weeks prior they were crowned Greater Manchester Champions. All Medal Winners were:- BOYS -        Pre-Novice Under 6 - Cole Bamford, 1st Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Harry Roche, 2nd Floor, 3rd Vault, 3rd Overall, Pre-Novice Under 8 - Joe Owen, 1st Floor, 2nd Vault, 1st Overall, Dominic Bunner, 3rd Floor, 3rd Overall, Pre-Novice Under 10 - Sam Bradley, 3rd Floor, Pre-Novice Under 12 - Lewis Bunting, 3rd Floor, Novice - Scott France, 1st Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Jake Daley, 3rd Vault, 2nd Overall, Adam Watson, 3rd Overall, Sam Owen, 2nd Floor, Morgan Payne, 3rd Floor, Ben Hay, 3rd Floor, Edward Codd, 2nd Vault. GIRLS -       Pre-Novice Under 6 - Kirsty Armitage, 3rd Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Megan Kirby, 1st Floor, 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall, Pre-Novice Under 7 - Dayna Hesketh, 3rd Vault, Pre-Novice Under 8 - Fiona Payton, 1st Floor, 2nd Vault, 1st Overall, Charlotte Bowman-Welsh, 3rd Floor, Pre-Novice Under 9 - Louise Smith, 1st Floor, 3rd Overall, Novice Under 7 - Leona Coglan, 3rd Floor, Novice Age 9 - Emily Slide, 1st Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Leona O’Neill, 2nd Vault, 3rd Overall, Novice Age 11 - Leah Connolly, 1st Floor, 2nd Overall, Novice Under 14 - Lucy Clayton, 3rd Floor, 3rd Vault, Sophie Fention 3rd Floor, Intermediate Under 11 - Rheann Newsham, 1st Floor, 3rd Vault, 1st Overall, Natalie Briggs 3rd Floor, 1st Vault, 2nd Overall, Intermediate Over 11 - Hayley Briggs, 3rd Floor, 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall. Other Competitors were:- Sam Bamford, Ewan Giles, Ben Fletcher, Matthew Price, William Lishman, Sean Burrill, Harry Clayton, Elizabeth Brown, Melissa Collins, Sian Hall, Tanicha Ellis, Tanya Brookes, Emily Martin, Kathryn Egan, Sophie Wells, Elizabeth Dudley, Bethany France, Jessica Wilkinson, Amy Briggs, Ruby Hume, Abbi Grindrod, Heather Waterhouse, Lucy Birch, Holly Withington, Niamh Gillan, Kimberley Ravenscroft, Jessica Wood, Brooke Sandilands, Chloe Nolan, Eleysha Jackson, Abigail Jones, Stevie-Leigh Bradley, Madalyn Payne, Alex Waldron, Aimee Henshall

	THE GMGA FLOOR & VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS...   R.O.G.C. - THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CLUB OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS !!! 8 Greater Manchester Floor & Vault Overall Invdividual Champions from Rochdale O.G.C. were crowned as they, and many other members of club, took the competition by storm in the relevant age groups and levels of competition they were entered into.  Joe Owen (Pre Novice Under 8), Dayna Hesketh (Pre Novice Under 7), Fiona Payton (Pre Novice Under 8), Eleanor Briggs (Novice Under 8), Holly Withington (Novice Under 9), Emily Slide (Novice Under 10), Leah Connolly (Novice Over 11) and Natalie Briggs (Intermediate) all became GMGA Champions in what was to be a highly successful day for the clubs gymnasts who also brought home 24 gold, 22 silver and 19 bronze medals, and were the most successful club of the day from the whole of the Greater Manchester County. Greater Manchester Vault Titles were taken by Fiona Payton, Joe Owen, Lucy Clayton, Natalie Briggs, Leona Coglan, Dayna Hesketh, Holly Withington, Emily Slide, Bethany France, and Floor Titles were earned by Fiona Payton, Joe Owen, William Lishman, Alex Waldron, Eleanor Briggs, Emily Cockcroft, and Holly Withington. Many other medals were taken on individual apparatus and for overall positions, details of which are below.  Other competitors were Sophie Wells, Emily Martin, Kathryn Egan, Hannah Riley, Melissa Collins, Tanicha Ellis, Tanya Brookes, Cole Bamford, Harry Roche, Ewan Giles, Sam Bamford, Luke Bolton, Stevie-Leigh Bradley, Abigail Jones, Kirsty Armitage, Amy Briggs, Ruby Hume, Marina Aston, Leonah Ellis, Kimberley Ravenscroft, Heather Waterhouse, Abbi Grindrod, Ben Fletcher, Sam Bradley, Nathan Aston, Lewis Bunting, Eleysha Jackson, Lydia Wallwork.   GIRLS PRE-NOVICE UNDER 6  -  Megan Kirby 3rd Floor GIRLS PRE-NOVICE UNDER 7  -  Dayna Hesketh 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Emily Cockcroft 1st Floor, 3rd Vault, 3rd Overall GIRLS PRE-NOVICE UNDER 8  -  Fiona Payton 1st Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Charlotte Bowman-Welsh 2nd Floor, 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall, Sian Hall 3rd Floor, 3rd Overall GIRLS PRE-NOVICE UNDER 9  -  Sarah Buckley 3rd Floor, 3rd Vault GIRLS PRE-NOVICE UNDER 12  -  Bethany Fance 1st Vault, 3rd Overall, Jessica Wilkinson 3rd Floor GIRLS NOVICE UNDER 8  -  Eleanor Briggs 1st Floor, 1st Overall, Leona Coglan 1st Vault, 2nd Overall, Megan Knox 2nd Floor, 2nd Overall, Hannah Wain 3rd Floor GIRLS NOVICE UNDER 9  -  Holly Withington 1st Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Cassandra Iberson 2nd Floor, 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall, Niamh Gillan 3rd Floor GIRLS NOVICE UNDER 10  -  Emily Slide 3rd Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Leona O’Neill 2nd Vault, 3rd Overall, Megan O’Shea 2nd Floor, Chloe Nolan 3rd Vault GIRLS NOVICE UNDER 11  -  Madalyn Payne 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall GIRLS NOVICE OVER 11  -  Leah Connolly 2nd Floor, 3rd Vault, 1st Overall, Lucy Clayton 1st Vault GIRLS INTERMEDIATE  -  Natalie Briggs 2nd Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Alex Waldron 1st Floor, 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall BOYS PRE-NOVICE UNDER 8  -  Joe Owen 1st Floor, 1st Vault, 1st Overall, Dominic Bunner 3rd Floor, 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall BOYS NOVICE OPEN AGE  -  Morgan Payne 3rd Floor, 2nd Vault, 2nd Overall, Adam Watson 2nd Vault, 3rd Overall, Ryan Bolton 3rd Vault, William Lishman 1st Floor

	THE BRITISH MENS CLUB GRADES FINALS...   Two 1st placings for Alex Leigh (Primary 4), and Max Aspinall (Primary 1) Report to follow shortly...

	THE BRITISH CLUB GRADES 3,2,1 & VOLUNTARY LEVEL 1 FINALS...     Connie Briggs was the star performer from Rochdale OGC in the British Club Grades Finals.  She travelled to Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre in Birmingham along with Lucia Thorley, Lois Howard and Sabrina Birchenough to compete in the National Championships at Club Grades, as members of the North West Teams. Connie competed in the Club Grade 2 Competiiton and earned a fantastic 4th placing overall, aiding the team to a British bronze medal. Two top 5 placings on Vault (2nd - 9.325), and Bars (5th - 9.2), earned a superb overall score of 36.15, the highest overall score and individual placing of all the North West gymnasts over the weekends events. Lucia Thorley competed well in the Voluntary Level 1 section to finish 18th Overall with 28.3, with the team finishing in 6th position. Lois Howard and Sabrina Birchenough both competed admirably at Club Grade 3.  It was a first National Final for both girls who made up half of the North West Team.  The team finished in a creditable 5th place overall, Sabrina making 19th overall (34.8), and Lois in 21st (34.4).

	THE STOCKPORT EASTER COMPETITION.......   20 GOLD MEDALS, 22 SILVER MEDALS, 18 BRONZE MEDALS, 5 OVERALL INDIVIDUAL TITLES AND THE TEAM TROPHY FOR THE 5TH YEAR RUNNING........ A formidable force of 22 dedicated and determined gymnasts from the girls squad at Rochdale Olympic Gymnastics Club descended on Dialstone Recreation Centre Stockport for the annual invitational Easter Championships.  Contesting Novice and Level 4 events the girls returned home with an outstanding 60 medals, 5 Overall Individual Champions, winning every category entered, and the team trophy for the 5th year running. The Under 9 Novices started a tremendous day's achievements with Emma Holmes taking the Overall Title ( 32.75), almost a whole mark ahead of her nearest rival.  Emma also collected gold on bars, silver on beam, and bronze on vault.  Gabriella Wright earned bronze for her bar routine. The Novice Under 10 category was a tightly fought contest with Hannah Casey 1st (33.675), Jessica Gilchrist 2nd (33.5), Elyse Murray 3rd (33.325), Mary Elcock 5th (32.75), Lauren Burke 8th (32.4), Rheann Newsham 11th (32.125), and Zoe Blackstone 15th (25.35) who only competed on 3 pieces of apparatus due to an unfortunate injury sustained during the warm up. A clean sweep of the floor medals with Elyse 1st, Rheann 2nd in her 1st 4 piece competition, and Mary 3rd.  Elyse & Jessica both took bronze medals on vault, whilst Zoe took the gold. Mary took top spot on beam and a 1,2,3, on bars rounded off the age group with Jessica 1st, Hannah 2nd and Lauren 3rd. Nicole Bolton, Gemma Deakin, Hayley Briggs and Georgia Hall battled their way through the Novice Under 12 event. Georgia had a superb competition and fully deserved the overall title with the highest overall individual score of the day (34.7). She also collected a medal on every piece of apparatus finishing 3rd Vault, 1st Bars, 2nd Beam, 1st Floor. Nicole finished in 3rd overall (33.225), 3rd on Bars, and shared the gold with Georgia on Floor.  Gemma took 1st on beam, and a 3rd place on floor. Sabrina Birchenough, Hana Greaves, Emma Thorndyke and Victoria Stanton competed in the final Novice category in the Over 13's.  Sabrina took top spot individually (34.582), with Victoria in 2nd (34.516).  Two more gold medals came Sabrina's way on Vault and Beam, with a silver on Bars.  Victoria took the gold on bars, the silver on beam and the bronze for her vault, whilst Emma took the bronze medal on bars for a clean sweep on that apparatus. The Level 4 competitors rounded off the proceedings with Connie Briggs earning top spot (29.602), Faye Padden 2nd (28.033), Robyn Hume 3rd (27.003), Lois Howard 4th (26.582), and Nicola Bridge 10th (22.50) competing on 3 pieces of apparatus only and returning to competition after recovering from an injury sustained almost 12 months ago.  Connie took 2nd spot on floor, and 1st spot on the other 3 apparatus, Faye took 1st place on Floor and 2nd on Beam.  Robyn and Lois earned 2nd and 3rd placings on bars, and Nicola took a bronze medal on all 3 of the apparatus she competed on. The team trophy was decided by the total combined score of the highest 5 placed Novice gymnasts from across all the age categories.  Georgia Hall (34.7), Sabrina Birchenough (34.582), Victoria Stanton (34.516), Hannah Casey (33.675), and Jessica Gilchrist (33.5) knocked up a total team score for Rochdale OGC of 170.973 to earn the trophy for the 5th year running, finishing over 8 marks ahead of the nearest rivals. This victory continues the outstanding success the club has had at the start of 2006 and we look forward to continuing this progress throughout the year and achieving further success.

	NORTH WEST GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION BRITISH DEVELOPMENT PLAN CLUB GRADES 6, 5, & 4 FINALS ....   ELEANOR BRIGGS, RHEANN NEWSHAM, EMMA HOLMES, LAUREN BURKE, HANNAH CASEY. The Rochdale gymnasts who competed for Greater Manchester.   5 Rochdale OGC gymnasts travelled to the Dialstone Recreation Centre, home of Stockport School of Gymnastics to represent the Greater Manchester County in the North West Grades Finals.  Eleanor Briggs (Grade 6 In Age), Rheann Newsham (Grade 5 Out of Age),  Emma Holmes (Grade 4 In Age), and Lauren Burke and Hannah Casey (Grade 4 Out of Age), along with Head Coach of Rochdale O.G.C., Cheryl  Gharbi who was the Greater Manchester Squad Team Manager for the 4th year running. Eleanor Briggs had a great competition and helped the Grade 6 In Age Team to the Regional Title with a combined team tally of 142.732.  Individually Eleanor finished in 8th place with 46.691.  Rheann Newsham performed superby to aid the Grade 5 Out of Age Team to the lift the Regional shield, the team finishing well ahead of their rivals in 1st place with a team score of 138.456.  Rheann earned an individual bronze medal for her overall position with 45.299. Emma Holmes, reserve for the Grade 4 In Age Team, unfortunately didn't get the chance to compete, but was on standby if needed, and collected a gold medal as the team earned 1st place with 137.007.  Lauren Burke and Hannah Casey had steady competitions to aid the Grade 4 Out of Age Team to the silver medal position with a combined score of 134.049.  Individually Lauren finished 8th with 43.966, immediately followed by Hannah in 9th with 43.408. The in age gymnasts across all three grades contested the overall Regional Title for the Champion County, and for the 3rd time in 4 years Greater Manchester County came out on top of the pile with a huge tally of 417.445 marks, and Eleanor and Emma collected a gold medal each for their efforts in this.

	NORTH WEST GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION BRITISH DEVELOPMENT PLAN CLUB GRADES 3,2,1, & VOLUNTARY LEVEL 1 FINALS ....   LUCIA THORLEY - North West Voluntary Level 1 Champion 2006 Faye Padden, Connie Briggs, & Lucia Thorley make it to The Nationals for the 2nd year runing. National Finalists for the British Grades Finals:- LUCIA THORLEY, FAYE PADDEN, CONNIE BRIGGS, LOIS HOWARD, SABRINA BIRCHENOUGH 12 gymnasts attended the Southport YMCA Gymnastics club to compete in the North West Gymnastics Association British Development Plan Club Grades 3,2,1, & Voluntary Level 1 Finals, 2006.  At the conclusion of a very long day's competition Rochdale O.G.C. has 5 gymnasts who will now represent the North West Region in the National Finals to be held in Birmingham in April. Lucia Thorley was the performer of the weekend, and with a clean competition in the Voluntary Level 1 section, not only represents the region in the British Finals, but goes as the 2006 North West Champion at that Level.  On her way to taking the overall title Lucia gained a top 3 placing on every piece of apparatus finishing 3rd Vault, 2nd Bars, 1st Beam, and 3rd on Floor. The Grade 3 competition saw Lois Howard finish in 3rd place (36.557) closely followed by Sabrina Birchenough in 4th (36.241).  Both girls will now make up half of the North West team to represent the Region in Birmingham. Lois and Sabrina gained distinction at this grade, whilst Elyse Murray (35.599), Robyn Hume (35.466), Zoe Blackstone (35.015), Jessica Gilchrist (34.466) and Mary Elcock (33.216) all gained passes. Faye Padden (35.774) and Connie Briggs (35.699) finished in 3rd & 4th places respectively in the Grade 2 category and will also travel to the finals next month as part of the North West Team.  Both girls gained pass marks along with Georgia Hall (31.191) and Courtney Musgrave (33.316). Some creditable apparatus performances were given in the Grade 3 where Zoe Blackstone claimed top spot on bars, Elyse Murray finished 3rd on Beam and Lois Howard 3rd on floor.  Grade 2 saw Faye Padden take 2nd position finishes on Bars, Beam and Floor, with Connie Briggs taking 3rd on Vault, and 1st on Bars.

	THE PHIL TIGHE FLOOR & VAULT CHAMPIONSHIPS...   The annual Phil Tighe Floor & Vault Championships held at Copley Recreation Centre, Stalybridge brought mixed fortunes for the club but 54 of the clubs gymnasts braved the March snow and competed well over a long two day competition. The performance of the weekend went to talented first time competitor Fiona Payton who finished 1st on Floor, 3rd on Vault, and 1st Overall in the 8 & Under Competition 2.  In the same competition Sian Hall finished 1st on Vault, with Louise Smith making it a clean sweep of the vault medals in 2nd, and also finishing close behind Fiona in 2nd place overall. The 6 & Under event saw Megan Kirby earn a silver medal for her vault, and a 2nd placing overall, whilst Bethany France collected her first competition medal with 3rd place on vault in the 12 & under event. In Competiton 1, the 7 & Under event saw the Rochdale girls take the top two positions on the floor with Ruby Hume and Megan Knox finishing 1st & 2nd respectively, whilst Leona Coglan earned 2nd on the Vault, and a second placing overall.  Jessica Wood collected the bronze medal for her vault in the 8 & Under section, and the 10 & Under event saw Emily Slide collect 3rd place on Floor, and 3rd place Overall.  Alex Waldron rounded off competition 1 with 3rd Place on Floor in the 12 & Under section. The boys were in action in Competition 3 with Joe Owen & Ewan Giles accounting for the first two medals finishing in 2nd & 3rd places respectively on floor in the 6 & Under section. The 12 & Under event earned Dale Hannam 1st on Floor and 2nd on Vault for a 2nd placing overall, whilst Adam Watson collected a 2nd placing for his floor routine. Other competitors were:-  Charlotte Bowman-Welsh, Tanya Brookes, Sarah Buckley, Melissa Collins, Kathryn Egan, Emily Martin, Sophie Wells, Tanicha Ellis, Lucy Birch, Amy Briggs, Cassandra Iberson, Abigail Mellor, Holly Withington, Abbi Grindrod, Natalie Briggs, Megan O'Shea, Chloe Nolan, Eleysha Jackson, Stevie-Leigh Bradley, Leah Connolly, Chloe Ottewill, Sophie Fenton, Aimee Henshall, Elizabeth Brown, Kirsty Armitage, Leonah Ellis, Elizabeth Dudley, Cole Bamford, Harry Roche, Sam Bradley, Sam Bamford, Ben Fletcher, Lewis Bunting, Luke Bolton, Matthew Price, William Lishman, Christopher Court, Ryan Bolton, Sean Burrill.

	GREATER MANCHESTER GYMNASTICS ASSOCIATION BRITISH DEVELOPMENT PLAN CLUB GRADES 6,5, & 4. 40 gymnasts from the girls squad of Rochdale Olympic Gymnastics Club descended upon Dialstone Recreation Centre in Stockport last weekend to compete in the Greater Manchester Gymnastics Association British Development Plan Club Grades 6, 5, & 4 Championships.  At the end of a very successful weekend the club now has 6 girls whom will represent the county in the Regional Finals to be held at the same venue in April.  37 of the squad passed their grades, 8 with distinction, whilst the other 3 members competed in the Pre-Grade 6 competition as a practice in readiness to sit their grade in 2007 when they are old enough to pass it. Lauren Burke got the weekend off to a good start in the Grade 4 Out of Age Competition finishing in 1st place overall and being crowned the Greater Manchester Grade 4 Out of Age Champion.  Hannah Casey finished in 4th place in the same competition, and both girls will represent the county as part of the Greater Manchester Team for the North West Finals.  Emma Holmes will be joining the girls as the Reserve for the Grade 4 In Age Team as she finished in 5th position overall.  Leanne Hardy repeated this success in the Grade 5 Out of Age Competition finishing the overall winner and went home with the title of the Greater Manchester Grade 5 Out of Age Champion.  Rheann Newsham followed close behind in 3rd place, and these two will also represent the county in the North West Finals.  Eleanor Briggs rounded off the weekend making the Greater Manchester team for the Regional Finals in the Grade 6 In Age Competition finishing in 3rd Place. Other girls successfully passing their Grades were:- GRADE 4 – Ashleigh Linkman, Hayley Briggs, Gemma Deakin, Aimee Henshall, Amy Noon, Gabriella Wright.  GRADE 5 – Abigail Mellor, Jessica Wood, Cassandra Iberson, Brooke Sandilands, Leona O’Neill, Natalie Briggs, Leah Connolly, Madalyn Payne.  GRADE 6 – Amy Briggs, Megan Knox, Hannah Wain, Ruby Hume, Niamh Gillan, Codie Chown, Stevie-Leigh Bradley, Lucy Clayton, Emily Slide, Megan O’Shea, Abigail Jones, Eleysha Jackson, Chloe Nolan, Heather Waterhouse, Lucy Birch, Kimberley Ravenscroft, Abi Grindrod. The County held a Pre-Grade 6 competition for the first time allowing the gymnasts too young to sit Grade 6 to have a go!  Leona Coglan, Emily Cockcroft and Dayna Hesketh attempted this feat, and all gained very creditable marks.  Leona Coglan returned home with the overall trophy for finishing in 1st place (46.083), earning a top 3 position on every piece of apparatus, 1st Floor and Range, 2nd Bars, Beam, Vault, whilst Emily earned a 3rd place on Beam. There were some very creditable individual performances on apparatus too:- GRADE 4 IN AGE – Emma Holmes 3rd Floor, 3rd Vault, 3rd Bars GRADE 4 OUT OF AGE – Hannah Casey 3rd Floor, 3rd Vault, 2nd Bars GRADE 4 OUT OF AGE – Hayley Briggs 2nd Beam GRADE 4 OUT OF AGE – Gemma Deakin 2nd Floor GRADE 4 OUT OF AGE – Lauren Burke 1st Beam, 1st Bars GRADE 5 IN AGE – Abigail Mellor 3rd Beam GRADE 5 OUT OF AGE – Natalie Briggs 3rd Vault GRADE 5 OUT OF AGE – Rheann Newsham 3rd Floor, 3rd Beam, 2nd Vault, 2nd Bars GRADE 5 OUT OF AGE – Leanne Hardy 1st Vault, 2nd Floor, 2nd Beam, 3rd Range GRADE 6 OUT OF AGE – Niamh Gillan 2nd Vault GRADE 6 OUT OF AGE – Lucy Clayton 1st Vault GRADE 6 OUT OF AGE – Emily Slide & Megan O’Shea =3rd Vault GRADE 6 OUT OF AGE – Abbi Grindrod 1st Bars GRADE 6 IN AGE – Eleanor Briggs 1st Bars, 2nd Range And distinctions were gained by Lauren Burke, Leanne Hardy, Rheann Newsham, Eleanor Briggs, Ruby Hume, Emily Slide, Megan O’Shea, Heather Waterhouse.

	FOLLOWED BY THE CLUBS 1ST EVER NATIONAL JUDGING QUALIFICATION....   Not to be outdone by her daughter, Fiona Wright headed off to Lileshall this month in an attempt to gain her National Judging Qualification.  After many days, nights, weeks and months with her head stuck in the new code of points, a lot more early morning hours were spent at Lileshall on the course as she tried to get it all to sink in for the final showdown at the end of the week.  Result - she passed, and was given the additional news that she could also now help tutor on the judging courses!!!  Well done to Fiona, and watch out judges - she'll be on at you soon with the new code in hand !!!

	ANOTHER COACHING QUALIFICATION TO KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR....   Rochdale O.G.C's 2005 Coach of the Year, Francesca Gordon headed off to City of Manchester Instituate of Gymnastics on the 29th January to sit her Women's Artistic Club Coaching examination.  Connie Briggs, Mary Elcock & Elyse Murray accompanied Francesca in her venture and did a grand job, as she sailed through the examination with flying colours.  Well done to all.