Croydon School of Gymnastics will be holding daytime classes especially for people and children with
disabilities. The aim of these classes is so that people with learning or physical disabilities and
who have special needs can enjoy the freedom and experience what gymnastics and movement can offer in
a secure environment with specialised equipment including trampolines, under the direction of our
coaches who are qualified to teach gymnastics to people with disabilities.
GMPD National Squad Trip to Berlin 24 Gymnasts including 6 from London (MA-Philip Davis: – Croydon School of Gymnastics, Rhythmic-Falcon Spartak G.C: - Sarah Dugdale, Rowena Francis, Hannah Westerman, Michelle Hon, Trampolining: – Harlington Hawks: -Daniel Reed)The designated team of 24 travelled to Berlin for a one week training camp at the Kienbaum Sports Complex from 8th-14th November. The centre is just a few miles east of the city and this was the place that provided our sleeping accommodation for most of the week apart from the first and last nights when the team slept at the Kolumbus Hotel in Berlin’s outskirts. This was the third international training trip abroad that has been organised by British Gymnastics. This being the first time the full 4 National Disability Squads (MA, WA, Rhythmic & Trampoline) have trained together. Britain, being the world leaders in Disabilities Gymnastics is giving other nations the opportunity to show how the UK has adapted the FIG code especially for people with disabilities. BG is very keen to get other countries on board in order to get the sport of Gymnastics into the Paralympics. BG have sent its National squad members to South Africa in 2007, Gran Canaria in 2008 and Berlin this year providing workshops, demonstrations, competitions and displays to show what can be achieved by those who have a disability. It was a very international affair with other gymnasts from Holland, Belgium, Norway & Ireland joining us for the weeks training. Bo Dominicus was a familiar face who we all met in Gran Canaria last year. (Bo is deaf so balancing is quite a problem for her, but nevertheless she has not let her disability stop her from winning a number of medals in competition). So there were plenty of opportunities for everybody to make new friends as well as re-new old friendships. The training facility was brilliant so was the food! (And Dave Balmer thought the bar was great to)!!!! Everybody got the chance to mix and learn from one another and the opportunity to try new skills left everyone feeling exhilarated and eager to get back home to show their club mates. One of the highlights was meeting the famous Eberhard Gienger who invented the Gienger on High Bar. He even showed us all he was still capable of pulling off a few moves, as he did a short demonstration on the High Bar. I managed to get his autograph! There was also an occasion during the week where the gymnasts got to swap disciplines. The men tried out trampolining and also had a go at Rhythmic which provided a few laughs (and I certainly won’t be doing any conditioning associated with rhythmic again for a while)! Similarly the Rhythmic & Trampolinists got 2 try each other’s disciplines and some men’s artistic. When we finished our training we got full use of the centres on site facilities and went swimming on 2 occasions, did a bit of water aerobics which was very enjoyable but knackering! There was also a games room which we used to play table tennis, pool & bowling so there was no time for too much relaxation on this trip! On the last night everybody returned to the Kolumbus Hotel and then went into Berlin to explore the city. Some chose to shop whilst others visited the Brandenburg Gate and the site of the former Berlin Wall before going for a meal afterwards. On the morning of our departure everybody was given a tour around the city by coach before heading to the airport. Report by Philip Davis
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The week started on Saturday evening with the Opening Ceremony taking place at the Leicester City's FC's Walker's Stadium with football legend Alan Birchenall hosting the event. The Prime Minister and his family where present for the opening and met some of the 3,000 competitors taking part in the Summer Games from 19 different regions. The recently reformed pop group the New Beautiful South performed an acoustic set whilst the highlight was the athletes’ parade through the stadium and the lighting of Special Olympics Flame of Hope. Following a spectacular Opening Ceremony enjoyed by 3,000 athletes, the National Summer Games sports events got underway and for Gymnasts it was podium training all day in the New College dedicated Gymnastics Facility. On the Monday & Tuesday saw the classification competition rounds, Wednesday was a day off and on Thursday and Friday saw the finals. Philip Davis (Aged 24) & Daniel Quick (Aged 23) both members of Croydon School of Gymnastics were part of the Greater London Team for “Gymnastics” Davis who suffers with Aspersers and Dyspraxia has been a member of the club since the age of 3. He has won many titles both regionally and nationally and was 7 time gold medallist at the National Games held in Birmingham in 2006. Quick who suffers from Frontal Lobe Syndrome was a member of the club many years but following an illness was unable to continue. Daniel re-joined the club 2 ½ years ago and was selected to join Philip in the squad for GMPD (Gymnastics & Movement for People With Disabilities) Both boys are current members of the GB National Disabilities Squad and between them brought home 12 medals (4 gold, 3 silver & 5 bronze) competing on all 6 Men’s apparatus. Results as follows: - Daniel Quick (Overall 2nd) – Special Olympic Set Routines - Level 2
Philip Davis (Overall 3rd) – Special Olympics Level 4 – Voluntary Routines
On Friday 20th July 2009 the Special Olympics Torch Relay came to London for the final leg of its Great Britain tour before heading up to Leicester where the National Games are being held this year. As members of the London team we had the privilege of being part of the relay along with 6 other athletes form Wandsworth and from the South East region representing other sports. It was an early start with everybody meeting outside City Hall near Tower Bridge in wet conditions for a few team photos with the torch. Also present was SOGB mascot Sollie the Lion along with celebrities, ex Football Manager Laurie McMenemy MBE (who is the current Chairman for Special Olympics GB) former Olympian Javelin thrower -Tessa Sanderson CBE, Steve Holliday chief Executive of National Grid & Police Sergeant Bob Chandler. The BBC were also there along with the Radio Station LBC videoing and recording us the athletes and interviewing various members of staff. Then we were whisked off on a London Tour Bus to take everybody over to Trafalgar Square where the Headquarters for National Grid an official partner of Special Olympics GB since 2007 and who have invested in their community by supporting the 2009 Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. London is the sixth leg of the nationwide torch run, which will see the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" travel through 45 towns and cities before lighting up the Opening Ceremony of Special Olympics National Summer Games which we will both be attending next Saturday. While we there, there were some more photos taken, this time alongside the staff from the National Grid. When this was over, Laurie McMenemy made a speech saying how proud he was to be part of the Special Olympics. Then next door at Prezzo's for a spot of lunch and a chance to get to know each other before the next leg of the relay. After lunch we toured around London's Trafalgar Square, Saw Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The London Eye, and other well known places but our high light of the day was undoubtedly going to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister (Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah). Gordon Brown greeted us outside No.10 and was very enthusiastic about the Special Olympics and all the athletes there who were due to compete next week. After a photo shoot Gordon Brown took everyone inside and the group was shown around his home by tour guide Paul who showed us around including the Cabinet Room where weekly meetings are held between the Prime Minister and all the Cabinet Ministers and see upstairs where the Banqueting hall is which is used for State visits. We even got to meet Gordon's three children, one of which was three years old that day! It was all very posh inside with big chandeliers and paintings hanging in the rooms and large, long, wooden dining tables. We were particularly fascinated by the photos of all the previous prime ministers hung on the wall at the side of the wide staircase, which is polished and cleaned everyday along with the rest of the house. After the tour we said goodbye, all thanked the president and some of his staff and headed out of the house. Everyone then got themselves sorted and agreed to meet up again in Leicester for the Special Olympics National Summer Games 2009. We have the privilege of representing London at the Special Olympics National Summer Games being held in Leicester from 25th to 31st July this year when many athletes from all over the UK will be competing against each other. The Special Olympics GB is a charity, recognised as the third member of the Olympic family and is a separate organisation to the Paralympics. The National Summer Games Leicester 2009 is a major national sports event for people with learning disabilities. Over 1.2 million people in Great Britain have learning disabilities and 3000 of them will be athletes at the forth coming Games. Pictured below is a collage of just some of the many photographs we took that day to mark a truly wonderful day and one we will both remember for years to come. Report by Philip Davis (Aged 24) Daniel Quick (Aged 23) Members of the GB National Disabilities Squad
CONGRATULATIONS TO PHILIP DAVIS & DANIEL QUICK Both Philip & Daniel passed their grades with flying colours. Philip (Aged 23) won Gold for level 3 and Daniel (Age 22) won Silver for level 7. There are 10 grades within Competitive Disabilities so both gymnasts did very well with gymnasts from all part of GB (Ireland, Scotland, Jersey, London, South West, East & West Midlands, The North, North West & Yorkshire) converged at the Rossmore Leisure Centre in Poole Dorset last weekend for 2 long days of competitions for both the Men's & Women's Artistic across all the levels from Grade 10 - Grade 1 being the highest. Pictured below are both Philip and Daniel proudly displaying their medals. Philip and Daniel are now preparing for the Special Olympics National Games which will be taking place in Leicester from 24th - 31st July for selection for the World Games in Athens. Philip will be taking part in the Men's voluntaries where Daniel will be taking part in the level 2 intermediate level. They will be part of the London Team consisting of 2 females and 7 males with Jackie Lewis Head of the London delegation and Paul Woods assistant team coach.
Pictured above top left to right
WELL DONE LADS & KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!International Training Camp Gran Canaria 22nd-29th November 2008 Our Philip Davis (aged 23) along with 22 Gymnasts from the GMPD Men's and Women's Artistic and Rhythmic National Squads were selected for the event along with 2 Trampolinists chosen from a selection event held in September The delegation of 39 including 14 members of staff left the U.K from Luton Airport early on Saturday afternoon for the sunshine of the canaries, with the Hotel Beverly Park in Maspalomas being their accommodation for the week. The first full day on Sunday was a rest day with everybody relaxing by the beach and visiting the spectacular sand dunes near Playa De Ingles The hard work began on Monday morning with a visit to the Igualdad de Opportunidades San Juan de Dios near Las Palmas to participate in a display showcasing Disability Gymnastics The Rhythmic National Squad, Shamika Llewellyn (Women's Artistic) and Alex Buesnel (Men's Artistic) performed some well received routines along with Bo Dominicus from GTV Dionysus in the Netherlands as well as several local groups. The training began on Monday Afternoon at the Sports Hall - El Tablero where representatives from Spain, the Netherlands and Italy joined the British delegation. It was straight to work for the gymnasts and coaches, starting with a general warm-up before splitting into disciplines to do some sports specific training. This set the theme for the camp with 2 full days of training on Tuesday and Wednesday culminating in a friendly competition on Thursday morning. There were six teams for the competition each containing a mixture of disciplines based on rank. It was the top 4 scores that counted. In a close fought competition Team 1 consisting of Alex Buesnel (Men's Artistic), Sophie James (Women's Artistic), Michelle Hon (Rhythmic), Patrick Quinleven (Men's Artistic) and Holly Cantrill (Women's Artistic) came out as the winners with a score of 85.95 As the International Training Camp and Friendly Competition was held during the 48th Blume Festival, all the gymnasts had the opportunity to participate in the evening displays hosted as part of this spectacular event. Both the Rhythmic and Women's Artistic Squads performed at the C.C. Yumbo in front of a large and appreciative crowd while the Men's Squad opened the show at the Plaza Maspalomas and stopped the passing crowds. Friday was a well deserved rest day with some of the gymnasts visiting the Aquasur Water Park whilst others chose to stay on the beach near the hotel, before returning to Luton the following day. A good time was had with new friends made and old friendships rekindled. Pictured below is the GB Delegation
GMPD Poole Open - Sunday 19th October 2008 CONGRATULATIONS! TO DANIEL QUICK WHO PERFORMED SO BRILLIANTLY IN HIS COMPETITION HELD AT THE ROSSMORE CENTRE - POOLE - DORSET DANIEL WON 3 MEDALS (GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE) Daniel Quick aged 22 has been a member of our adult’s class since1997. He was inspired by our Philip Davis (aged 23) who is one of GB’s - Disability National Squad Members to join him by working along side our senior squad members to help him overcome his disability and to start competing in GMPD competitions (GMPD stands for Gymnastics & Movement for People with Disabilities).
Daniel suffers with Frontal Lobe Syndrome which was been caused by the virus Enchepilitis which he had as a child. He also suffers with epilepsy and his seizures are quite frequent but despite this Daniel has overcome a weight problem and has worked extremely hard in the past year getting his self fit and learning all the required skills to be able to compete in GMPD competitions. Daniel entered his first competition last weekend at the Rossmore Centre in Poole. His routines were from the Special Olympics - Level 2 compulsories. But for this competition he was only required to work 3 apparatus - Floor, Vault & Parallel Bars. He won Gold for his P/Bars, Silver for Vault and Bronze for Floor. WELL DONE! KEEP UP THE HARD WORK IT CERTAINLY HAS PAID OFF FOR YOU DANIEL British Gymnastics NDP National Finals - 2008 Once again the Rossmore Leisure Centre in the Poole hosted the GMPD British Gymnastics NDP Finals on Sunday 13th April 2008. The gymnasts standard of work had improved immensely since last years competitions, with our Philip Davis showing some extremely good work on all disciplines and passed his Grade 3 with flying colours by ringing home another gold medal to add to his collection. Once again, well done Philip. ![]()
British Championships 2007
SALTO GYMNASTICS NATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE A specially
designed multi-million
pound facility
in Northern Ireland. Gymnasts from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales all flew
out to Ireland these Championships are for people with disabilities. This competition was the first to be judged
on the new changes to the GMPD code and proved tough going for all the judges
as well as the gymnasts taking part. Philip Davis, was hoping to regain his
title of British Champion in 2005.
Philip has worked hard since September and some of his routines included new skills to fulfil the requirements of A-Jury however it was the B-Jury judges that could make or break him on execution faults. With a sound floor with no falls his routine only scored 9.55 which wasn't enough to secure a medal and his closest rivals from Scotland took the medals. However Philip was delighted with his Silver medal on Vault with a score of 11.95 for his Round Off Vault and he also managed to pick up 3 apparatus Bronze medals for Pommels (9.90), Parallel Bars (10.80) & High Bar (9.85) and took the over all Bronze medal with a total score of 60.45.
Although disappointed with the overall result Philip was congratulated by the
judges for his high standard of skills in his routines. Now Davis is determined to carry on training hard
will do his best to perfect these routines for 2008. |