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A gymnastics club has collaborated with the Royal Borough’ s leisure team to hold a Gymnastics Festival and Competition.
The event, which was backed by the council and fully funded by Athena Angels Gymnastics Club, took place at Thames Valley Athletics Centre on Sunday.
More than 1,000 people, including 200 gymnasts who registered to compete, attended the festival and competition, which was planned by the club’s head coach and creative director Morgan Todd.
The event featured four categories – beginner, intermediate and two advanced levels to cater for all abilities and ages. Youngsters with disabilities and additional needs were also welcomed, with adaptations offered to ‘create and inclusive environment’.
Simon Muir, the High Sheriff of Berkshire, was on hand to present medals and awards to the children.
One competitor, Ellie Edwards, who was born deaf and communicates through British Sign Language, joined the club three months ago and won a gold medal at Sunday’s event.
Athena Angels has been working with the council’s leisure team on its aim to collaborate with all the gymnastics clubs in the Royal Borough to put on the festival.
Angela Carr, owner of Athena Angels Gymnastics Club, said: “The idea was to raise the profile of gymnastics within the borough but also to create an opportunity to bring the wider community together with the hope of forming a sustainable stream of revenue leading to a self-funded venue.
“The first meeting was held in October 2022. It was made very clear to all the clubs in the borough that support was available from the council on the condition that this was a joint venture, and the clubs could demonstrate a collaborative approach.”
Athena Angels offered to organise the competition and for other clubs in the borough to attend to make sure ‘they would still be included’.
Another gymnastics event is slated to take place in the autumn to allow more time for planning a joint venture.
The RBWM Gymnastics Festival & Competition is set to take place on Sunday, November 26 at Thames Valley Athletics Centre.
Athena Angels Gymnastics Club opened in 2019 and runs gymnastics training sessions from six independent sites, including Windsor and Maidenhead, with more than 700 members.
While mainly recreational, the club has a competitive squad team that has won Gold at The National Championships.
Angela added: “The day went extremely well. Thames Valley Athletics Centre is a fantastic venue, Morgan Todd, head coach and creative director at Athena Angels worked extremely hard alongside her team of coaches to present a spectacular event.
“I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by an amazing team.”
“We have further plans to grow over the next six months and appreciate everything The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have done to support us.”
