A GROUP of Scone gymnasts are training hard ahead of the 2019 Gymnastics NSW Country Championships this week.
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Scone Gymnastics will join 1300 of the best and brightest gymnasts across country NSW, each seeking the title of the 2019 Champion Club at the Hunter Sports Centre from the July 17 to 21.
Coach Nicky Western said the event is a really good introduction to competition to encourage the girls to keep going.
"The girls aren't graded until they reach Level 5 and 6, instead they are banded," she said.
"If their performances get them into the gold band, everyone gets gold that's in the gold band, and everyone gets silver, everyone gets bronze... so you're not actually pitched against each other, you're just doing the best for your level.
"In Level 5 and 6, the overall winner receives gold.
"I think we got all silver last year [at the Country Championships], so the girls do well," Western added.
The talented group of gymnasts have been very busy in the lead up to this week, competing at the National Primary Games in Tamworth and two Hunter qualifiers at Maitland.
All girls who competed in Level 4 at the qualifier received silver, with Level 2 receiving silvers and golds.
Western said it's a good result with the end goal to qualify for the regional team for State Championships in Sydney in October.
"We want to try to get some people into the team," she added.
"This is the first year that you've actually had to qualify to get into state championships, up until now you've just been able to nominate and go.
"The girls did really well at the first two qualifiers so if they replicate that at Hunter Championships in August then hopefully they will make the team.
"They take 40, so it's not inconceivable to get a spot. So hopefully we will get there."
Gymnastics NSW Event Spokesperson Kait Bastion is excited for another great year of competition.
"The Gymnastics NSW Country Championships is a special event on our calendar. It is always so much fun when we can bring our country clubs together and we look forward to another great few days of gymnastics," she said.
The Gymnastics NSW Country Championships will be held from the July 17-21 at Hunter Sport Centre, Glendale.
Scone Gymnasts competing at 2019 Gymnastics NSW Country Championships:
Level 2: Chelsey Woodley, Lily Stevens, Olivia Turner, Tamika Roberts
Level 3: Ruby Brochtrup
Level 4: Isla Warden, Tyler Johnson, Ash Wright, Riana Tillemans
Scone Gymnastics Club ran a successful FreeG group over the school holidays and are hoping to run a regular Free G/ Parkour class in the near future.
"It was really good fun," Western added. "We got boys and girls to that and they just loved it.
"We're hoping that once we get the hall extended and the floor redone that it will be more user-friendly for senior activities and playgroup as well."