GA Women's Junior Camp, Canberra, August 31 - September 4

GA Women's Junior Camp, Canberra, August 31 - September 4

Thursday, 6 September 2012
Last weekend, at the AIS in Canberra, Gymnastics Australia held the first training camp for the 2013-2016 Olympic Cycle.
Jo Richards, Gymnastics Australia's Women's National Junior Development Co-ordinator, provides a review of the training camp.
24 of our best, keen, young female gymnasts and their coaches flew into Canberra for 5 days of everything gymnastics. It was a great few days filled with plenty of skill development, video education, mentoring, hot and cold spas, very cold mornings (it got down to -6.8° one morning!) and new friendships – everyone enthusiastically working together with a common goal - improving the standard of Australian Gymnastics.
While the coaches talked about ‘skill clusters’ – what connects to what; preferred techniques and planned for the future; the gymnasts were busy impressing National Coach Peggy Liddick with their skills.
There were plenty of great D dismounts off beam and bars – all forms of double backs were seen with all programs embracing the National direction of double rotations off beam and backwards landing dismounts off bars.
Many girls displayed their high quality choreography on the beam and floor – the extra attention spent in this area is paying off!The VWHPC beam choreography in particular showed good progress. All of the girls are now firmly entrenched in our squad culture of expressive movement. Lots of girls exhibited high quality aesthetics and performance; they were all challenged but enjoyed working with choreographer Stacey Umeh on their beam and floor dance bonus.
A highlight of the camp was the exquisite quality and skill direction demonstrated by Peter Abbott and his young WAIS crew – many Adlers, Double layouts, Hindorfs and Shaps were on display.Way to go Pete! Brooke Callcott’s inside stalder and ‘L’ grip endos along with Molly McKenzie’s excellent bar form, including her sky high Hindorf and ‘true’ double layout bars dismount were great. Georgia Godwin (MBC) showed some new Weiler kips on bars – another great skill choice. Maddi Leydin’s (VWHPC) Markelov was huge! Well done Maddi! Grace Sheppard’s (QAS) new Pak was coming along nicely. Great step forward to perform her Tkatchev in a routine by Elisha Lai (Epping) and without the belt Karla Danelutti (Balance).
Some great twisting was seen: Paige James (WAIS)twisting great front 2 ½’s off tumble track and triple on floor along with Aimee Warnock’s (VWHPC) triple twist on tumbling, a great skill choice! All girls were also working on rebounding for bonus out of all their tumbleswhichisa necessity in the new code of points. Alex Eade (VWHPC) excelled at all things double layout, both on floor and off the bars! Eliza Freeman (Waverley) has nearly mastered her full in on tumbling.
During the camp all girls participated in the Physical testing. Congratulations to:
• The ‘most physically prepared athlete’ Emma Curry (MLC/Waverley) – full credit to Emma’s long term coach Michelle De Highden. Emma also won the Press to handstands and Cast to handstands (13 each);
• Eden Tarvit (QAS) was best on the chin-ups with 19 performed under test conditions in 30 seconds. She also had the longest standing broad jump – 74.5 cm longer than her standing height;
• Emily Conran (QAS) won the leg lifts with 23 in 30 seconds;
• Karla Danelutti (Balance) was the fastest at the rope climb and can also jump a whopping 2m 32cm;
• Emma, Brooke Callcott and Darcy Norman (both WAIS) were the most proficient at the kip to handstands (11 good ones in a row);
• Alex Eade (VIS) was the fastest runner – 3.22s for 20 metres;
• Gillian Chan (WAIS) balanced the longest handstand with good form – 2 minutes 10 sec; and
• The following girls were mentioned as having achieved 10/10 for their press to handstands, cast to Handstands and kip to Handstands: Emma Curry (MLC), Darcy Norman, Brooke Callcott (from WAIS).
It was also great to have Senior Georgia-Rose Brown attend the camp. She is well on the way to being prepared for her next competition in Mexico. Good luck Georgia!
All the girls are now looking forward to their next Junior Camp which will be held in 2013. For more information regarding Gymnastics Australia's Women’s Development Program, please contact Jo Richards:.
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