Gymnastics News
| 2012 | ||
| January | February | March |
| July | October | |
| 2011 | ||
| January | May | October |
| February | July | November |
| March | September |
Northern European Championships
20 and 21 October 2012 saw four of Glasgow School of Sport artistic gymnasts taking part in the Northern European Championships at the Emirates Arena. Ten countries took part with the Scottish Women’s team finishing third overall where three of the five members of the team were made up by Bellahouston Academy and School of Sport pupils Amy Regan S7, Carly Smith S5 and Cara Kennedy S4. Douglas Ross, a former pupil, was also part of the Men’s team who finished in a credible fifth place. All four of our gymnasts made it through to the apparatus finals with Amy Regan taking silver on the vault. An excellent weekend of competition from our 2014 hopefuls who fully enjoyed competing in front of the home crowd.
A special mention has to be made to our Acrobatic gymnasts who also got in on the action by performing a brilliant half-time show on Saturday, 20 October 2012, with team mates from City of Glasgow Gymnastic Club which was specially choreographed for the event and thoroughly enjoyed by the 1000 spectators.
 |
(Left) Colin Drysdale S4 performing a double back salto as part of the acrobatic display (Right) Amy Regan with her silver medal from vault final and team-mate Liam Davis |
Russian Exchange
 |
Russian Exchange student |
Moreover, Glasgow School of Sport also hosted 2 workshops with our partners City of Glasgow Gymnastic Club and Scottish Gymnastics. On Wednesday the 13 th June Scotland’s top gymnasts trained alongside the Russian gymnasts and coaches working on high level physical preparation work as well as conditioning circuits and choreography.
Then on Friday, 15 June 2012, it was the turn of Scotland’s next generation of gymnasts who took up the opportunity to participate in another high performance level training session. All gymnasts and coaches left the sessions enthused and fully of new training ideas to help raise Scotland’s gymnastic standards to that the world renowned Russian training regime.
 |
Russian Exchange students and coaches |
Men's and Women's Artistic British Championships
On 22 – 24 June 2012, three School of Sport gymnasts competed at the Artistic British Championships 2012 in Liverpool’s Echo Arena. Cara Kennedy competed in the women’s Junior competition with Amy Regan and Douglas Ross competing in the Senior categories. All the gymnasts performed excellent routines at this very intensive British Championship that also doubled up as the last Olympic qualifier event of the year. Douglas and Amy both qualified for vault on finals day. Amy finished in 7th and Douglas 5th, a mere 0.112 points away from a bronze medal in a closely fought competition.
 |
Cara Kennedy, Amy Regan and Douglas Ross |
Olympic Torch Relay
On Friday, 8 June 2012, Glasgow School of Sport Gymnasts put on an outstanding tumble display to welcome the Olympic Flame to the Toryglen Football Centre. The gymnasts performed a high energy tumble routine in front of thousands of school children, teachers and Glasgowlife staff as well as meeting rowing star Katherine Grainger MBE.
 |
Pupils involved in the Olympic Torch Relay in Glasgow |
Acrobatic British Championships 2012
 |
City of Glasgow Champions:
First Pair from Left Craig Downie back and partner Mitchell Smith forward Centre Men’s Group front row Colin Drysdale and James Thomson left to right partners behind. |
National Championships
 |
Back Row Left Craig Downie, Front Row Centre Left to Right James Henderson and Colin Drysdale |
 |
Jennifer Rodgers in action with her partner |
 |
Jennifer Rodgers on the podium in 2nd position with her partner Zoe Blair |
Click to return to top of page
February 2012
Scottish Championships - Perth
Congratulations to the following gymnasts who took part in the Scottish Championships on the 19 and 20 February 2012 at
- Douglas Ross - Silver Medal on Rings and Parallel Bar
- Gaynor McGiffen - Gold Women’s Team Event
- Cara Kennedy - Gold Women’s Team Event, All Around Champion, Vault, Beam and Floor Champion and the Silver Medal on 'A' Bars
- Scott McCormack - Gold Tumble
 |
2012 Scottish Championships |
Click to return to top of page
Jamie Seventh at British Nationals
Congratulations to S6 pupil Jamie Aird who finished in first place on Saturday, 21 January 2012 in Perth and qualified for the British Nationals on Saturday, 28 January 2012 in Hartfield, London (finishing in seventh place overall) in the Senior Men’s event. Well done to Jamie on his excellent results in consecutive weekends of competition.
 |
Jamie Aird |
Click to return to top of page
Congratulations to Jamie Aird
Congratulations to Jamie Aird who’s excellent performance at the Trampoline National Championships at Bells Sports Centre in Perth on Saturday 12 November 2011 crowned him the 2011 Senior Men’s National Champion.
Click to return to top of page
 |
Jamie Aird |
Congratulations to Cara and Douglas
Congratulations to both Cara Kennedy and Douglas Ross who travelled to Uppsala in Sweden with Team Scotland to help the Women’s Artistic Gymnastic Team to finish a credible sixth position and the Men’s Artistic Team in eighth position.
Click to return to top of page
Northern European Success for Cara
Cara demonstrated her growing potential as a performer on the international stage by taking the Bronze Medal at the Northern European Championships. Cara Kennedy the youngest member of the Scotland National Team competed for the first time at this senior event with the focus and poise of a gymnast beyond her years. After being a key player for the team event on Saturday, 12 November 2011 at Fyrishov Sports Centre, Uppsala in Sweden, Cara qualified for the beam final on Sunday 13 November 2011.
 |
Cara Kennedy |
Qualifying in eighth position, Cara faced a beam final full of gymnasts who between them had many more senior international experiences and successes including competing at the recent World Championships in Tokyo. However, new to the senior stage Cara was not fazed and took to the beam with a performance that oozed quality and confidence delivering both Cara and Scotland the bronze medal.
Click to return to top of page
Six School of Sport Acrobats Selected to National Squad
Congratulations to Janice Buchanan, Hannah Collie, Craig Downie, Colin Drysdale, James Thomson and Caitlin Craig who all had a successful trial and have been named in the 2011-2012 Scotland National Sports Acrobatics Squad.
Click to return to top of page
Another Gold for Douglas at the British Championships
Double congratulations to Douglas Ross S7 Junior Commonwealth Games Vault Champion who went on to make it a Double Gold the following weekend (Saturday 17th September) at the British Championships in Fenton Manor Sports Complex. These back to back results prove Douglas Ross is a strong hope for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Team and medal contender on Vault
 |
Douglas flying high with a double gold |
IV Youth Commonwealth Games 2011 Success
Glasgow School of Sport pupils Cara Kennedy, Carly Smith and star performer Douglas Ross all had the best competitions of their young careers so far at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man. In their biggest competition to date the gymnasts did themselves, City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club, Team Scotland and Glasgow School of Sport proud.
 |
Douglas and his Gold medal winning vault |
In the WAG event there was tough competition from England, Wales and Australia. Outstanding routines however, from Carly and Cara along with team mate Shannon Archer secured the Scottish Team fourth position just behind Australia, with Carly and Cara both qualifying for all round finals finishing in eighth and twelfth place respectively. In addition Carly Smith also qualified for beam final and reserve for floor final.
In the MAG apparatus final the Scottish star of the day was Douglas Ross, scoring 14.825 in the vault, taking home the gold medal. This is a great achievement for Douglas and his coach Marius Gherman (City of Glasgow).
A fantastic set of results demonstrating the talented youngsters potential and medal hopes for 2014!
Click to return to top of page
Read About Douglas Ross’s Journey to Gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games
Sixty-three countries entered the fourth Commonwealth Youth Games 2011, held on the Isle of Man from 7– 13 September 2011. The event consisted of seven different sports including athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, rugby 7s and swimming.
A fifty strong Youth Team Scotland finished sixth overall in the medal tables with five gold, six silver and eleven bronze medals won in five of the seven events.
For many this will have been their only opportunity to compete in the Commonwealth Youth Games as the upper age limit is 18 and the next games will not take place until 2015 in Samoa.
For gymnast Douglas Ross, 17, from Johnstone, a pupil at Bellahouston Academy and the Glasgow School of Sport, it was the pinnacle of a return from a hip injury that threatened any further participation in the sport. During 2007, Douglas performed poorly at several competitions due to a niggling hip pain which on occasion actually made him collapse with the sharp pains. X-rays and scans were inconclusive so it was decided that the only way forward was an exploratory operation in May 2008 which revealed damage to the lining of the hip socket probably caused by one hard landing too many. With a clean out of the damaged area and several weeks of physiotherapy, Douglas was soon eased back into training with the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club.
Late in 2008, Douglas regained his place in the Scotland Team and by 2010 captained the team at the UK School Games and again at the 2011 Celtic Cup. Coached by Romanian 1988 Olympic bronze medalist Marius Gherman, Douglas was one of four City of Glasgow gymnasts to be chosen as part of Youth Team Scotland, with six gymnasts in total. Marius was called up as the Men’s Coach to look after the three boys.
"I wanted the boys to qualify for the finals," said Marius, "If they won a medal then that would be better, but they had to qualify first to stand a chance."
The qualifications were tough and the Scottish boys finished fifth overall and qualifying for two finals with Douglas on vault and Liam Davie on high bar.
Douglas was the second gymnast to compete his two vaults and Marius could not have been more pleased with his performance as Douglas went into first place. But then the waiting began as another six gymnasts took their turn. Mum, Kay, 47 was watching at the event and said, "It was nerve-racking, having to wait and watch. It was a horrible feeling waiting for the judges to put each score up." Marius added, "I knew that he had a chance of a medal and by the fifth score I knew that he had a medal but what colour? The guys from England, Canada and Singapore were very good."
But not good enough. Douglas retained his place at the top of the results table taking the gold medal. Marius said that, "It was fantastic! That is the best ever result for Douglas and for myself since becoming a coach. Our next major goal is the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow but there are many other competitions before then including the British Championships in Stoke this weekend."
"I was very pleased with my vaults in the final but found it very nerve-racking to wait until the others had finished. The goals from my coach were to reach the finals but getting a medal, especially a gold one, was just superb," said Douglas. "It was a great experience competing against gymnasts from twelve countries and I had the opportunity to watch Youth Team Scotland in other sports too. I was very proud to hear the national anthem played as the Scottish flag was raised at my medal presentation, something that I will not forget."
One week later, Douglas was crowned 2011 British Junior Vault Champion at the British Men’s Artistic Championships. "I’ve been suffering from bruised heels for the past fortnight, but I had to grin and bear it and do my best. I couldn’t believe that I ended up with the gold, but I’m extremely happy!" he said. Again, Kay was there to see her son on top of the podium, "It’s a fantastic result for him. Two gold medals in seven days at two of the biggest events on the calendar is just brilliant and with the new men’s 2014 team coach having watched Douglas at both events, I think that he stands a good chance of making the team selection, but time will tell."
Click to return to top of page
Youth Commonwealth Games Selection
Congratulations to all three Glasgow School of Sport Gymnasts who were officially announced as members of the Youth Commonwealth Games Team to represent
 |
Left to right Carly Smith, Douglas Ross and Cara Kennedy |
Click to return to top of page
Brooklynne Takes British Title
Well done to Brooklynne MacDonald who took top spot to be crowned British Champion in the trampoline NAT C Under 17 F category on the weekend of the 23-24 July 2011 at the NIA in Birmingham.
Congratulations to Brooklynne, East Kilbride Trampoline Club and her personal coach Andrea Milligan. Congratulations must also go to Jamie Aird who finished a credible tenth position in the FIG B Under 19 male event and Gemma Aird who finished in twenty-eighth position in the NAT C Under 19 ladies event.
British Success
Congratulations to Carly Smith and Cara Kennedy who successfully competed at the 2011 WA British Championships in the Echo Arena Liverpool on the weekend of the 9-10 July 2011. Carly Smith’s excellent performance on the floor on the Saturday managed to secure her a place in the apparatus finals on the Sunday finishing in a credible seventh position. An outstanding result for the first year Junior.
 |
Carly Smith and Cara Kennedy |
Click to return to top of page
Women’s Artistic British Team Championships
Congratulations to Carly Smith, Emma Mackay and Megan Glass who took part in the Women’s Artistic British Team Championships at the Guildford Spectrum Arena on Saturday, 22 May 2011. The three girls were part of the City of Glasgow Gymnastic Club Team who finished in a respectable 12th place.
 |
Carly Smith, Emma Mackay and Megan Glass |
Click to return to top of page
Isle of Man International Success
Congratulations to Carly Smith S3 who travelled to the Manx Gymnastic Centre of Excellence on Saturday, 15 May 2011 to compete for Team Scotland in the Isle of Man International. Carly helped Scotland to take the Team silver medal in this event and in addition helped herself to an individual silver medal on Asymmetric Bars and a bronze medal on Floor.
 |
Carly Smith (left) on the podium |
Fenton Manor Successes
Congratulations to Men’s Pair Craig Downie S3 School of Sport pupil and his partner Mitchell Smith who took the Silver Medal at the Acrobatic Gymnastic British Championships on Saturday 21 May 2011 in Fenton Manor,
 |
Craig Downie (left) Mitchell Smith (right) |
 |
Scott McCormack |
Click to return to top of page
Celtic Cup Success
Six Glasgow School of Sport pupils represented their country on Saturday 12 March 2011 in Ireland at the Celtic Cup National Championships. Acrobatic Gymnasts Craig Downie and Scott McCormack helped Team Scotland win gold with Women's Artistic Gymnast Emma Mackay helping Northern Ireland secure the gold medal in the Minor category.
In the Junior category, Women's Artistic Gymnasts Cara Kennedy and Carly Smith helped Team Scotland take the gold medal and Men’s Artistic Gymnast Douglas Ross helped Team Scotland take the silver medal.
 |
 |
|
Sports Acrobatics Scotland Celtic Cup Team |
WA and MA Scotland Celtic Cup Team Photograph taken by John O’Connor |
Click to return to top of page
School of Sports Gymnasts are Crowned Scottish Champions
Acrobatic Gymnastics and Tumbling National Championships
Congratulations to the recently crowned Scottish Champions at the Sports Acrobatics and Tumbling National Championships at Larkhall Sports Centre on Saturday 19 February 2011, Sunday 20 February 2011 and Saturday 5 March 2011. Titles taken include
- Gold - Craig Downie - S3 Men’s Pair Level 2
- Gold - Caitlin Craig - S1 Women’s Pair Level 1
- Double Gold - Scott McCormack - S1 Acrobatics Mix Pair Level 1 and Tumbling Level 2
 |
 |
|
School of Sport Medal Winners - Scott McCormack S1, Caitlin Craig S1, Douglas Ross S6, Cara Kennedy S2 |
School of Sport Medal Winners - Cara Kennedy S1, Carly Smith S3, Danna Sim S4, Douglas Ross S6, Gaynor McGiffen 2011-2012 S1, Emma Mackay S1, Megan Glass S3 and Sandra Walsh - High Performance Gymnastic Coach |
Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics National Championships
Seven School of Sport gymnasts took place in the Men’s and Women’s Artistic Gymnastic Scottish National Championships at Bell's Sports Centre in Perth on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 February 2011. The seven gymnasts manage to take away a collection of 12 medals.
Special recognition going to:
- Carly Smith - New National Junior Women’s All round Champion
- Cara Kennedy - Junior Women’s National Floor and Vault Champion
- Douglas Ross - Junior Men’s National Rings and Pommel Champion
Click to return to top of page
Cara and Carly Selected for 2014 Performance Programme
GSOS is delighted to announce Cara Kennedy and Carly Smith have been named as members of the Scottish Gymnastics WA 2014 Commonwealth Games Squad. GSOS would like to congratulate the gymnasts for their selection on to the 2014 Performance Programme and entry into the West of Scotland Institute of Sport.
Click to return to top of page
Caitlin and Scott Take Gold at Avondale Championships
Sports Acrobatics Gymnasts Caitlin Craig and Scott McCormack did the double by taking Gold in both the Grade 1 and Grade 2 competitions respectfully at the Avondale Invitational Acrobatics Championships, which took place on Saturday, 29 January 2011 at Larkhall Sports Centre.
