Monday, February 7, 2011

“Gymnastics honor roll” plus 1 more

“Gymnastics honor roll” plus 1 more

Gymnastics honor roll

Posted: 07 Feb 2011 07:55 AM PST

[fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content]

Team Scores: 1. Mason 135.5 2. Lakota East 132.925 3. Anderson 128.7 4. Lakota West 125.575 5. Fairfield 123.8 6. Turpin 116.475 7. Seven Hills 116.45 8. Hamilton 113.225 9. Cincinnati Country Day 109.375 10. Badin 106.95 Vault: 1. Brooke Middleton, Mason 9.2 2. Alissa Finke, Fairfield 9.175 3. Tara Spencer, Loveland 8.9 4. Lauren [...]

Boost proposed for gymnastics but at cost to athletics centre

Posted: 07 Feb 2011 01:56 AM PST

LEEDS could become one of the leading centres for gymnastics in the country but an indoor athletics centre would be sacrificed to make way for it in a move which could save £300,000 a year.

Public talks began last year about possible changes to the way elite-level gymnasts are run in the city as part of a move to save money.

At present Leeds City Council manages top-level performance gymnastics training in the city but it is now bein

g proposed that an independent club is set up to take over the training scheme. As well as focusing on training elite gymnasts it is envisaged the club would be able to run itself and expand to offer all ages and abilities the chance to enjoy the sport.

Talks are still at an early stage but it is proposed the club is moved from its current home at Leeds Metropolitan University's Carnegie sports centre, in Headingley, to an area of the John Charles Centre for Sport currently used for bowls and an indoor athletics centre which would be partly axed.

Bowls would still be possible at the centre but it would not be possible to provide space for indoor athletics.

Coun Adam Ogilvie, the council's executive member for leisure said: "While it is important to stress this proposal is at an early stage, this move would help to put Leeds at the forefront of both recreational and elite gymnastics in the country.

"We will now begin more detailed consultations with all the key stakeholders and parties involved, but we are keen for this major council facility to be used more than it currently is and this proposal would help make that happen."

The current indoor athletics facilities would be removed as the space and equipment needed for gymnastics and athletics are incompatible.

Discussions are to take place with current athletics users, those from Leeds City Athletics Club, England Athletics and Sport England to consider the impact and any possible alternative training provision, but an adjacent outdoor track and facilities will still be available for their use.

The centre had 7,700 visits by athletes in the last 12 months, compared with an estimated 30,000 expected visits per year by gymnasts of all ages and abilities if the change were to take place.

Council bosses believe that if the new club hosted recreational gymnastics and ran the centre itself, the council could save approximately £300,000 per year.

British Gymnastics development director Mark Gannon said: "Gymnastics provides the fundamental movement skills for a lifetime in sport and British Gymnastics work with clubs and any strategic partners that enable greater access to gymnastics. The club already runs a successful elite programme for Men's Artistic gymnastics and want to build on this success.

"A facility that allows greater access to the community, and that is fully managed by the club, would enable children and their families to experience the fun and excitement of the many gymnastics-based activities that are now available, such as freestyle gymnastics and cheerleading, as well as the opportunity to excel in an Olympic sport.

"British Gymnastics will continue to work with both the club and the Leeds City Council on the proposed move."

Following the latest discussions, a report will be prepared and presented to the council's executive board to decide how the project proceeds.

There are currently 135 performance gymnasts aged from five to 20 at the present City of Leeds Gymnastics Club.

Leeds City Council's Gymnastics Training Scheme currently offers elite-level training in three sections: Men's artistic, women's artistic and acrobatics/tumbling.

The changes come at a time when the authority is making major spending cutbacks. The council plans to cut 1,500 jobs this year and in total, aims to cut 3,000 jobs over four years.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In The Crosshairs.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)