CQ gymnasts strut stuff

Whitney Dew (Level 5) on beam at the CQ Regional Championships held at the Gladstone PCYC at the weekend.

CHRISSY HARRIS

CENTRAL Queensland’s best gymnastics talent was on show in Gladstone on the weekend, when the Gladstone Gymnastics Club hosted the CQ Regional Championships.

The must attend two-day event for any potential state competitors saw roughly 150 male and female competitors converge on the venue during Saturday and Sunday.

Gymnasts from Mackay to Bundaberg contested a series of events from levels two through to 10 and competition co-ordinator Anna Turetschek was pleased with how smoothly the weekend ran.

“The venue is wonderful for competition, everyone loves to come here because we have very good equipment and we’re always getting more, better equipment,” Turetschek said.

The co-ordinator said the quality of competition was strong but the environment was relaxed.

“There are some very good talents in the region,” she said.

“Everyone is very supportive — the coaches, judges, everyone works together, which is wonderful,” Turetschek said.

“It was a very friendly atmosphere.”

Members from eight regional clubs were in attendance as 98 females and 53 males entered the competition arena.

The Gladstone club, typically dominated by female members, had its strongest-ever male contingent.Turetschek highlighted the varied benefits of gymnastics while speaking at the event.

She told The Observer the skill set acquired by the children through gymnastics would aid them in future endeavours.

“Gymnastics is a good fundamental sport for any sport. So when someone does gymnastics they’re very well prepared for anything,” she said.

The CQ event was the final qualifying event for the Queensland Championships to be held in Brisbane during the June/July school holidays.