CARTERTON residents will be springing into action this week after a group of local gymnasts reached the national finals of a competition, despite the team only being founded this year.

The Carterton Veteran Gymnastics Team will travel to Lilleshall, Shropshire, to compete in the National Veterans Final Competition this Friday and Saturday.

The team began in January, with a variety of gymnasts ranging in age from 19 to 54, and a mixture of beginners and more experienced competitors.

According to coach of 23 years Debra Courtenay-Crane, a local government officer, the veteran team was founded with the objective of getting to the British Championship 10 months later.

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The 49-year-old said: “They are inspirational, absolutely inspirational. They have worked so hard, and achieved so much. I’m extremely proud of the gymnasts. Their target is to go out, do the best they can and enjoy the weekend.”

Witney Gazette:

  • Laura Trafford

The gymnasts, consisting of eight women and one man, compete individually in different disciplines, including vaults, bars, beams or simply doing acrobatic moves on the floor.

Civil servant Kate Dela, 31, took part in gymnastics as a child before restarting four years ago.

She said: “I really enjoy it. I used to do gymnastics but I gave up when I was 13.

Witney Gazette:

  • Angela Bywater

“It was very difficult at first to get the conditioning, but now I enjoy it because I’ve got used to the skills again. I look forward to it [the competition].

“I get a bit nervous but it’s a good opportunity.”

Witney Gazette:

  •  Kate Dela doing a cartwheel and back-flip on a beam

The Veterans Team makes up part of the Carterton Gymnastics Club, which was founded more than 20 years ago. The club has 120 members, is made up of a number of teams, ranging in age from five to 75, and is run entirely by volunteers.

Ms Dela added: “There’s a good atmosphere. We have the children training at the same time and everyone helps each other.

Witney Gazette:

  • Claire Granville

“All of us work and have full-time or part-time jobs and other commitments to juggle at the same time. It’s a lot of work but when we achieve a personal goal it gives a lot of satisfaction.

“There’s nothing that replaces the feeling or compares to gymnastics.”

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