Audience enjoy fantastic Portsmouth Gymnastics Club novice festival

Every year PGC hope to sign up as many young gymnasts to compete.

The event this time saw saw 160 gymnasts, aged from as young as four, showcase their routines in front of a large audience.

Gymnasts of all ability levels perform a well-practiced floor routine and a vault to an adoring audience of family members.

The first round started with the tiny gymnasts, with some of those having just turned four. They took to the floor to perform many different routines, showing strength, balance, rebound skills, coordination and craft.

The next round was the six to eight-year-olds who showed such confidence on the floor.

They smiled throughout the routines.

Then it was the final round of seven to 15-year-olds.

They really impressed everyone watching with their difficult rotational somersaults and individual extras on the floor.

PGC gave out the 14 overall trophies as well as more than 60 medals to those who finished in the top three in their age group.

Director of gymnastics, Samantha Maggs, said: '˜I think it's one of my favourite days of the year.

'˜It's so rewarding and refreshing watching the general gymnasts showcase their gymnastics skills, they commit every week and it was great to see an end product of their hard work.

'˜I heard one little boy say it was the best day of his life.

'˜Promoting exercise and sportsmanship is the main aim of these events and all the gymnasts had such fun being in a structured competition.

'˜I can't thank head coach Kirsty Tippett enough for making the event such a success.

'˜We can't wait until next year.'

Portsmouth Gymnastics Club is based at their fantastic Alex Way facility, PO2 9AD.

Squads perform in county, regional, national and international competitions.

Also check out County champions fly flag for Portsmouth Gymnastics Club