GYMNASTICS: Westfield student wins silver

THE acrobatic gymnastics season has started excellently for Yeovil student Jack Britten and his acrobatic gymnastics partner Devon Roe-Lavery who have taken silver medals in two competitions.

But it is their performance at the Bristol International that really made the pair stand out as they were competing against gymnasts from the top clubs in Great Britain.

Jack, 14, a student at Westfield Academy, travels from Yeovil to Honiton four times per week to train with his nine-year-old acrobatic partner Devon. The pair were competing in the Grade 4 men’s pair discipline.

PHOTO – TOP: Jack Britten, left, and his gym partner Devon Roe-Lavery along with coach Helen Reddy and fellow gymnasts Catie Lee and Valentine Tutcher.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Westfield Academy’s Jack Britten throws Devon Roe-Lavery on their way to a silver medal at the Bristol Invitational.

High performance coach James Reddy said: “The first competitions of the season are often an anxious time for gymnasts, but the lads took them in their stride.

“They’ve still got a long way to go, but if they continue to work hard there’s every chance that they could compete at 11-16 international age group level by the end of the year and at the British Championships in 2016.”

Jack and Devon scored 26.56 out of a possible 30 at the Bristol Invitational and finished 0.34 behind rivals Illya Freeman and Sammy Nassem from NextDimensionGymnasticsAcademy in Tunbridge Wells.

“Jack has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few months,” added James. “It takes a high level of commitment to travel to Honiton to train, but he is doing extremely well and showing constant improvements.”

Honiton Gymnastics Club has a strong tradition in acrobatic boys and men’s pairs, with experienced pair Buster Tutcher and Ashley Wallis taking medals at British Championships, international tournaments, and trialling for the world championships in 2014.

Following the Bristol Invitational and the regional prelims, the gymnasts are now back in the gym training 13.5 hours per week to learn new moves for the Turin International Acro Cup, which takes place in July.

Photos: Courtesy of Ben Lee Photoimagery.

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