Honiton Gymnasts Reclaim National Gold and add Bronze in Historic Finals Weekend

Honiton Gymnastics Club is celebrating an unprecedented weekend of success at the National Acrobatic Gymnastics Finals in Stoke-on-Trent, where its talented gymnasts not only reclaimed a prestigious gold medal but also secured a well-earned bronze, alongside a fifth and a sixth position.

The competition saw Sophie Sanders, Daisy Clayton and Matilda Clayton crowned National Champions for the second consecutive year, successfully reclaiming their gold medal in the highly competitive IDP 2 Women’s Trio category. Their win was a real nail-biter for everyone watching, especially their families in the audience, as they were the last group of the day to perform. After their first routine, the girls were just 0.21 points behind the top spot. They needed a very high score to win, but the girls stayed calm and performed an amazing balance routine, scoring 27.00. Their families and supporters cheered loudly when the score appeared. This amazing performance helped them beat their Scottish rivals by just 0.07 of a point, with a total score of 53.35.

Also adding to Honiton’s medal wins, Lizzie Sanders, Kira Wotton and Olivia Wotton claimed bronze in the IDP 1 Women’s Trio category. Their consistent routines gave them a total score of 51.47, finishing  just 0,29 behind first place.

And showing the breadth of talent at Honiton Gymnastics Club, Jasper Pendrick and Thomas Walker took fifth in Grade 2 Men’s Pairs, and Faith Huxley and Orlando Migliari finished in sixth place in the IDP 1 Mixed Pairs category.

James Reddy, coach and board member at Honiton Gymnastics Club, said: “What a weekend for Honiton. Seeing Sophie, Daisy, and Matilda win their national title again in such an exciting way – being the last to perform and needing a big score – was very nerve-wracking but so exciting. Their performance showed how much they have improved and the value of hard work.”

James also spoke about a special part of the club’s success: “It was great to see family connections shine through. Sophie and Lizzie Sanders both won medals – Sophie got gold and Lizzie got bronze. It really seems to run in the family here in Honiton! We had three sets of sisters who won medals: Sophie and Lizzie Sanders, Daisy and Matilda Clayton, and Kira and Olivia Wotton. These amazing results show the hard work, dedication, and love for the sport that all our gymnasts and coaches have here in Honiton.”

Looking ahead, the excitement continues for Honiton Gymnastics Club as they prepare to host the South West Club Development Championships on Sunday 8 June at Honiton Gymnastics Centre. Clubs from all over the region will travel to Honiton to take part in this big intermediate competition, which also serves as a valuable fundraiser for the club.