2 gymnasts from the Central area recently represented Scotland at the 2^nd UK School Games held in Coventry over the weekend 24^th to 26^th August. Steven Sneddon (15) from Braes, Falkirk and Chris Chalk (16) from Causewayhead, Stirling helped their team to bronze in the Men’s Artistic gymnastics event.

Chris with a score of 71.85 points finished in 8^th place overall and qualified for 5 finals, including his strongest piece the Pommels where he stayed the course and won an individual bronze just 15 hundredths of a point behind second placed Connor Lewis from Wales.

Steven with a score of 67.65 points finished in 13^th place and qualified for 3 finals walking away with a commendable 4^th, 5^th and 6^th place in the Parallel Bars, Pommels and Rings events.

In the women’s event gymnasts from Tayside, Fife and Glasgow battled out a worthy fight finishing in 3^rd place with England taking gold and Wales in silver position.

Overall, England proved the stronger team in both the men’s and women’s competition winning both the team events, the all around finals and the majority of the apparatus finals. In comparison to the Scots the difference in performances was notable as the Anglos consistently competed skills of greater difficulty, the reason for this was clear as the English gymnasts currently have a 10 hour a week training advantage to their challengers.

In the Scots favour though, where they managed to excel was in the quality of their work and a strong team spirit resulting in a games of excellent competition and comradeship.

[Photographs courtesy of Tom Ross]