SPORT
l The triumphant Royal Navy Gymnastics Team Pictures: DE Photo
l Main image: Mne Daniel Bennett; Top, CPO Mac McCormick; Second row, OC Alison Barrett and AB Adam Starovla New; Above, CPO Aaron Wilding and PO Ben Wright; Left, Lt Jamie Weller
We are the champions
Navy gymnasts scoop coveted national title TWO national team titles, five individual titles and six medals – Royal Navy gymnasts ensured they were the most successful team at a national competition.
Every member of the team ranked in the top six of their disciplines at the British Gymnastics Veterans’ competition held at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire. The biggest competition to date saw more than 300 gymnasts from across the country compete in a number of disciplines. The Royal Navy fielded teams in the trampoline, tumbling and men’s team events – taking the National Champions title in the tumbling category. Lt Jamie Weller picked up a bronze medal in the male pro tumbling
category, while the male novice contest saw CPO Aaron Wilding take gold and Mne Daniel Bennett silver. OC Alison Barrett picked up a silver medal in the female novice category to help the Royal Navy beat six other teams to the top spot. But it was the Artistic National Team Championship title that the Royal Navy Gymnastics Association had as their main target – with two Chief Petty Officers going neck-and-neck in the male novice over-30 category. CPO Keith ‘Mac’ McCormick posted the highest score on the rings but was pipped to gold by CPO Wilding. Mne Bennett finished sixth in the same category, while Lt Weller took gold in the male pro over-30 category for performing the hardest floor and vault routines of the entire competition.
Olympic gold for Navy rower – page 47
The squad was helped to the team title by POET(WE) Ben Wright, who won the pommel discipline to finish in fourth place in the male novice over-18 category. “It felt amazing when we won the best team, waiting during the medal ceremony in anticipation and then the moment they announced the winners of the 2016 men’s artistic was the Royal Navy,” said CPO Wilding. “All the hard work and effort that everyone put in finally paid off.” AB Adam Starovla New scooped silver in the male over-18 pro trampolining contest with the highest tariffed routine of the entire competition – four double somersaults connected. Lt Weller took gold and Mne Bennett bronze in the male over-30 trampolining event, while OC Barrett took gold in
the female novice over-18. AB Stacey Liggett finished in fifth place in the female novice over-30 category. The Royal Navy team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal, finishing fourth out of nine teams. The veterans’ contest is open to gymnasts aged over 18 who have not competed at international level for two years. The Royal Navy Gymnastics Association was only formed last year and members took part in a number of regional competitions before the national championships. Lt Weller said: “This is my fourth year competing at the British Vets and every year the standard of gymnastics goes up. Being here with the Royal Navy team was something I had been dreaming about since I joined the Navy, let alone
Athletics Inter-Services – page 46
winning two team national titles.” POET(WE) Wright added: “I am so proud of what myself and the team has achieved, considering we are a new team and a lot of the team members only started training seriously last year. “We have already started discussing our plan for next year’s competition. Plus we were definitely the best looking team there!” The medals were presented by former world tumbling champion Kristof Willerton. The Royal Navy Gymnastics Association, which has training venues across the country, is open to males, females, regulars and reservists in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Anyone wishing to join should visit the Royal Navy Gymnastics Facebook page.
Navy Cricket Cup – page 45