Gymnastics: New base for gymnasts

Dec 4 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

DEANS gymnasts have a new full-time home after they moved into all-new purpose built premises at Bankton Primary School in Dedridge.

The school had a brand new large sports hall built but the gymnastics club have access each evening and will continue to run classes from Deans High at the weekend.

Deans Gymnastics Club and the school work well together sharing equipment and the club also provide a free afterschool class for Bankton pupils on Mondays.

The club are due to start afterschool classes on a Tuesday for P1-3 and on a Thursday for P4-7.

These classes are open to all children of this age group in West Lothian.

The club recently held a ladies fund-raising night which was expertly organised by Nicola Walker.

Nicola managed everything personally from booking the venue to filling up table slots with massage therapists, reiki, a book stall, nail beauticians and psychic readings among other things.

She also arranged for everyone to donate to the buffet and gave each child raffle tickets to sell.

Younger coaches of the club helped out on the night by setting up and selling another £170 worth of raffle tickets.

The night was a huge success and the princely sum of £1100 was raised.

The club would like to give a great big thanks to Nicola for all the hard work and effort she put in. Many parents have already requested this to be an annual event.

Coaches of the club would also like to thank parents of class members who assist the coaches every night in setting up and dismantling the equipment.

There is also good news on the international front for one of the club’s most promising gymnasts.

Seven-year-old Dana Russell has been selected for trials for the Scottish Squads in January.

Deans Gymnastics Club have a group of very talented youngsters aged between five and seven and all are looking forward to bringing their talent on as much as possible.

The club is constantly expanding with new gymnasts attending and bringing in new coaches to train up.

Anyone interested in a space for youngsters from the age of five and beyond can get more information by emailing deansgc@hotmail.com.