Barry Comprehensive School

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The Barry Team at the British team trials for the World Gymnasestrada,
Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire

Pupils from Barry Comprehensive School, Ysgol Bro Morgannwg and Ysgol Sant Curig recently took part in trials to represent Great Britain at the World Gymnaestrada, Dornbirn, Austria.

The nineteen pupils travelled to Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire, where the British gymnastics squad train, to participate in the trials. Competition was strong with 15 other teams, a total of 250 gymnasts, from all over the U.K. The Barry team were the only school-based team and the sole representatives from Wales at the event.

The team have just received notification that they were successful in being selected to represent Great Britain at the World Gymnaestrada, which takes place in July. This event is the largest sporting event in the world, with over 25,000 participants and is an excellent opportunity for the young team.

Ffion Byrne from Ysgol Sant Curig, who is only 9 years old, has also been selected to open the English Speaking International Gymnastics Evening. Remarkably, Ffion is the only gymnast to be selected by the director of the International Evening not to need auditioning for this event, which will include gymnasts from Britain, America, Australia, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. She was seen performing whilst at the London Festival of Gymnastics and the director approached coach Emma Thompson during the Lilleshall trials to give her the good news. Emma commented, “I had no idea that they were even considering gymnasts who had not been put forward for the trials, especially such a young girl. I was very proud of every one of the pupils as they performed the spotless routine twice during the day and I know that I am speaking on behalf of the entire team when I say that we are especially proud of Ffion to be opening a section of the evening as a soloist. I was a bit concerned that she wouldn’t want to do it because the enormity of the event may have fazed her. However, when I sat her down with the team and asked her if she’d like to do it and she simply nodded her head, said “Yes, okay then” and carried on eating her sandwiches!”

Photos

1. The Barry Team at the British team trials for the World Gymnasestrada, Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire
2. Ffion has also been selected to open the English Speaking International Gymnastics Evening