Five acrobatic teams consisting of 14 local girls are set to showcase their routines during a public performance at Eden Area Gymnastics in Pambula next Wednesday September 7.
The showcase is a warm-up session ahead of the girls competing at the NSW State Gymnastics’ Championships in Sydney.
The five teams qualified to compete at the Championships after gaining the necessary points in two routines, at tryouts in July.
They will now return to Sydney for the Championships on Saturday September 10 and Sunday September 11, competing against teams from across NSW including Sydney.
It’s an impressive grand finale to a long gymnastics’ career for Eden Marine High School student and Eden resident Montana Tinson, who will be competing in a level five acrobatics’ trio.
“It’s the second time I’ve qualified for the NSW State Championships and I’m excited,” Montana said on Monday.
“This will be my last competition before I retire. I’m now 16 going into year 12, and I need to retire so I can knuckle down into study for my HSC.”
Montana has been doing gymnastics for 14 years and is one of the most experienced girls in the Eden Area Gymnastics’ club where she trains, but even so the nerves remain.
And interestingly, Montana’s more nervous about the local show than the big smoke.
“I’m more nervous doing it down here than what I am up there, as there are more people down here that I know who will probably go, so if I stuff up they will know,” Montana said. “But in Sydney they won’t know.”
Especially significant for Montana is the presence of her boyfriend in the local audience.
“My boyfriend hasn’t seen me perform before so he’s the one I’m most nervous about,” Montana laughed.
“My family and friends have seen me perform before so it’s not a shock, but for him it will be a bit different.”
Fellow teammate and Eden Area Gymnastics’ coach Zoe Stewart – who is performing in a level four trio – said she hopes the attendance of the showcase next Wednesday will be well attended, to boost the confidence of the team.
“This event will be a chance for the public to see the talent of our local acrobats alongside an opportunity to fund-raise for the team to get to Sydney,” Zoe said on Monday.
"This is a very exciting and proud moment for our club with it being the biggest group of acrobats we've ever had to make the State Championships.”
The five teams performing will be; level four trio Coco Houston (Merimbula), Charlotte Purcell (Merimbula) and Amelie Shannon (Tathra): level four trio Mackenzie Baker (Pambula beach), Hollie Knowles (Merimbula) and Zoe Stewart (Pambula beach): level five pair Alana Bretherton (Merimbula) and Indigo Conroy (Bega: level five trio Ursula Paradine (Merimbula), Lila Moodie (Merimbula) and Emily Hocking (Tura Beach): and level five trio Kirra Turna (Tathra), Pipi Keogh (Pambula beach) and Montana Tinson (Eden).
EAG’s rhythmic gymnast Lili Armstrong from Bega will also showcase her rhythmic gymnastics’ routine that she will be taking to the Country Championships in Newscastle in October.
The acrobatics’ showcase will be held at 6pm on Wednesday September 7 at the Eden Area Gymnastics at 38 Toalla Street Pambula, with a entry fee of $5.
Tickets are available at the door, and any enquiries should be directed to Zoe Stewart: edengymnastics@gmail.com
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