SLEMON PARK – The sport of gymnastics will be front and centre in the City of Summerside this weekend.
The Atlantic gymnastics championships will take place at Credit Union Place.
“We have around 325 athletes competing from all four provinces,” explained Jeff MacRae, executive director and men’s head coach with the Slemon Park-based Summerside Saultos Gymnastics Club. “It starts at the beginner, intermediate level, and goes all the way up to the national level.”
Competition begins early Friday morning, and continues through until around 4 p.m. Saturday. MacRae noted competitors will range in ages from nine to 20.
“It’s a real good opportunity for our younger gymnasts, our recreational program, pre-school athletes to be able to see what you can get to with gymnastics, and it’s a good chance to see it first hand,” offered MacRae. “It’s really the first time an event of this size has been in Summerside for gymnastics, so we are really pleased about that.
“We are actually hosting the Eastern Canadian championships in May next year at Credit Union Place. That will be Atlantic Canada along with Quebec and Ontario. It’s a little bit higher level as well.”
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A total of 18 athletes – 14 females and four males – will represent the host Saultos this weekend.
“It’s a good number,” MacRae said. “I think it’s our largest number to date of kids competing at Atlantics.”
Females will compete in four events – floor, vault, balance beam and uneven bars, while the males will do six events – floor, vault, high bar, rings, parallel bar and pommel horse.
The Saultos’ season runs September to June, but the competitive athletes also train during the summer.
“They get a few weeks off in the summer, but to be at that high level you have to keep working,” said MacRae. “This is near the end of our competitive season.
“Competitions usually begin around January and go until the end of April and May.”
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Grow interest
MacRae is hopeful that hosting events like the Atlantics will help grow interest in gymnastics among current and potentially new athletes.
“For the ones who have been to Atlantics before and competitions of this calibre before, it will be great,” he said. “For the ones who are just not quite there yet, they will get to see and experience it, and maybe that will motivate them for next year.”
The public is encouraged to check out the action. A one-day admission pass will be available for adults ($10) and students aged six to 17 ($5) while kids under the age of six will be admitted free of charge. Weekend passes of $25 for adults and $10 for students will also be available.
“The more people there cheering and clapping there is better atmosphere for the kids,” said MacRae.
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Saultos Competing
Summerside Saultos competingin Atlantic gymnastics ch’ships:
Males
Brennan Smith – Level 1 under-12.
Keagan Keough – Level 1 under-12.
Jacob Martin – Level 1 under-10.
Jago Sabine – Level 3 over-13.
Females
Clara Arsenault – Level 6 Argo.
Isla Shea – Level 6 Argo.
Summer McKenna – Level 6 Tyro.
Lauryn Monkley – Level 6 Tyro.
Naomi Williams – Level 6 Novice.
Bryn Shea – Level 6 Open.
Emmy Mae MacLeod – Level 6 Open.
Chloe Betts – Level 6 Open.
Megan Smith – Level 6 Open.
Miranda MacEachern – Level 7 Novice.
Anna Bernard – Level 7 Open.
Kylee Hill – Level 7 Open.
Ashley MacDougall – Level 7 Open.
Alyssa Mugridge – Level 8 Open.
Schedule
Schedule for Atlantic gymnastics championships:
Friday, April 20
Session 1
Women’s artistic Level 5, Argo 6, Argo 7
7:30 – Warm-up.
7:45 – Competition.
10:45-11:15 a.m. – Opening ceremonies.
Session 2
Women’s artistic Open 7, Novice 7
Men’s artistic Level 1 U10 and Level 1 U12
11:15 a.m. – Warm-up.
11:30 a.m. – Competition.
Session 3
Women’s artistic Tyro 8, Novice 8, Open 8
Men’s artistic Level 1 (12-plus), Level 2 U10, Level 2 U12, Elite 2
2:30 p.m. – Warm-up.
2:45 p.m. – Competition.
Session 4
Women’s artistic Level 9 and 10
Men’s artistic Level 4 and national open
5:45 p.m. – Warm-up.
6:05 p.m. – Competition.
Saturday, April 21
Session 5
Women’s artistic Novice 6, Open 6
Men’s artistic Elite 3, Level 3
8 a.m. – Warm-up.
8:15 a.m. – Competition.
Session 6
Women’s artistic Tyro 6, Tyro 7
Noon – Warm-up.
12:15 p.m. – Competition.
