45 members of the Splitz Gymnastics Club Acro Squad travelled to Newtownabbey, Belfast to take part in the Flight Acro Classic competition hosted by Flight Gymnastics.

The event attracted over 250 gymnasts from both the North and South of Ireland and catered for a wide range of skill levels.

Excitingly, it was the very first acro competition that the club’s dynamic Regional Squad competed in.

Led by coaches Ellie Rutledge, Rhian Thompson, Sarah Rutledge and Aoife McGuigan, the 19-strong Regional Squad gymnasts, competed in partnerships, forming balances and tumbles to a two-minute musical routine.

The Regional 1 Women’s Pairs were first up, and Splitz Gymnastics was skilfully represented by two separate pairings.

The gymnasts performed a fast-paced and lively performance, and their efforts were justly rewarded with a fantastic bronze medal position for Eva-Jane Curley and Sade Clendenning and a silver medal position for Cora Larkin and Maisie Cassidy.

In a highly competitive Regional 2 Women’s Pairs category, the club was again represented by two highly skilled pairings.

Isla Gardiner and Jessica Bennet wowed the audience with an artistic routine, placing 7th and Maddie Martin and Jessica Maher were awarded a well-deserved bronze medal for their hard work and determination.

In the Regional 2 Women’s Groups Honor Leonard, Ava Kirpatrick and Róisin Rice eagerly took to the floor with an upbeat and entertaining routine which earned them a top seven position.

Annie-Kate Dillon and Ella McCaghery attained a wonderful bronze medal position with a theatrical routine in the Regional 3 Women’s Pairs.

As the last of the Regional Squad took to the floor in the Regional 3 Women’s Groupings, the audience were provided with another wonderful display of gymnastics.

This category was again very highly contested and after a nail-biting wait on the judges’ scores, Kayla Kirkpatrick, Laoise Corrigan and Saoirse Sliman were awarded a superb 4th position, whilst Aoibhinn McCaghery, Maria Corrigan and Orlaith Lunney received an impressive bronze medal position.

Head Coach Jenny Hanna commented: "This Regional Squad should be so proud of themselves for all of the efforts they have put in over the last number of weeks and months. It is no easy feat to remember a two-minute routine to music whilst balancing on each other all with only 1.5 hours of gymnastics per week. We are so super proud of you all!" 

It was then the turn of the National Development Squad to wow the audience.

This squad train up to 8.5 hours per week and it was clear from their medal positions that they were able to compete with the best in the island of Ireland.

The Grade 1 Mixed Pairs of Dualta McNabb and Erin McGoldrick were outstanding in their field achieving a top gold medal position for the club, whilst the Grade 2 Women’s Group of Lucia Allen, Cori McConnell and Lexi McElwaine achieved an extremely closely contested silver medal.

As the day progressed, the club’s medals kept coming with some spine-tingling displays in the Grade 3 Women’s Pairs.

Áine Rice and Niamh Breen produced a beautiful routine, narrowly missing out on the bronze medal position which was awarded to Annie-Rose Bannon and Caoimhe O’Reilly for their artistic routine.

The club also walked away with the top, gold medal position in this highly competitive category for an elegant, clean routine by Sophie McGrath and Zara Fisher.

Sofia Allen, Lucy Rice and Emily Jordan’s trio were very unlucky to miss out on a bronze medal position in the Grade 3 Women’s Groups with their dramatic and highly entertaining routine, whilst Poppy Corr and Naoise Kerrins battled their way to 6th position in the Grade 4 Women’s Pairs.

The Grade 4 mixed pairing of Dale Fisher and Sarah Wilson flipped their way into silver medal position with an acrobatic routine and Laoise Fogarty, Alicia McElwaine and Phoebe Rutledge placed 6th in the Grade 4 Women’s Groups.

As the competition came to its closing stages, the Splitz Club saw another two gold medal positions travelling to Fermanagh. 

Emily Hanna and Maeve Duffy saw off all other competitors in the Youth Women’s Pairs to achieve 1st place with their highly skilled acro routine. Lastly, Mena O’Reilly, Riona Dooris and Sarah Rutledge also gained 1st place position for their outstanding routine.

Head Coach Jennifer Hanna said: "Our National Development Squad had a superb competition, and I couldn’t be prouder of each member of our team. They were able to overcome some very tough competitors and with their continued hard work and determination they are continuing to improve their scores from previous performances." 

Splitz Gymnastics Club wish to thank all the parents, young leaders, and the volunteer coaching staff for their unwavering support without whom none of this would be possible.