Vaulting ambition might mean one thing to Macbeth, but to Bryony Gill, Y13, it’s merely one of the four gymnastic skills she polishes five times a week. Working on floor, vault, bars and beam at Ladywell Gymnastics Club gives Bryony a different focus from her A levels in French, Biology and PE. ‘It allows me to let off steam a bit,’ she explained. And she’s very good at it! On 14 November she came 3rd in the British Gymnastics National Challenge Competition, and before that, in July, she represented her club, Ladywell GC and Britain in Malta, coming 1st on the floor exercises and 7th overall. What a tremendous achievement!

This comes at a price – 5 times training a  week, special attention to her diet, cranking up the protein and easing off the carbs in the days leading up to a competition. She gets Easter and Christmas and two weeks off a year, like others at her level. But the thrill of representing her country in a sport she loves and at which she excels, visiting other countries, making new friends, and the loyalty of her team at Ladywell  - these are invaluable experiences. Bryony pays tribute to her coach, Shirley Callaghan. Apart from the training, Shirley arranges new kit for each competition; in Malta the team had 4 new leotards, and sometimes they are sponsored. Bryony said it all started with her mum taking her to Play Gym when she was 2; how proud must she be now! What next? Tempting though it might be to take a Sports Science course at university, Bryony is delighted to have an AAB grade offer from Loughborough to read Psychology. ‘Just got to get them now,’ she laughs gently.

23 November 2010