The tumble track was installed during May and that s probably the end of the major centre developments for this year and we can concentrate on the competition season. The Greater Manchester open is the first of these and we have a record entry from SSoG competing at Wigan on the 14th/15th June. The Teen sessions have started on a Saturday evening and have attracted 20 gymnasts, but we still have places. June 2014 Newsletter We have got the hang of parties too, having run several and another half dozen in the pipeline. All happens on Sundays, Come and join in. SSoG Calendar 2014 June 14th & 15th Greater Manchester Open at Wigan June 21st Parents meeting in the café at Newby Rd, to discuss volunteering in the club. Meeting starts at 1.00. June 28th & 29th The Frank Williams at the Newby Road Centre. This is our biggest event (and fund raiser) of the year so please support this event. June 28th & 29th The Phil Tighe at Birchwood Tennis Centre in Warrington July 19th & 20th High Peak Summer Competition at their gym in Buxton July 26th & 27th Greater Manchester Floor and Vault Championships September 20th & 21st North West Teams and Age Group Championships at Wigan October 18th & 19th North West 4 Piece at Wigan November 8th & 9th Greater Manchester 4 Piece at Wigan November 22nd & 23rd North West Floor and Vault Championships December 13th & 14th North West Inter County Team Championships. Inside this issue: Profiles AGM Volunteers Frank Williams Competition Teenager Classes Centre improvements National Grades Finals Security Stockport Floor and Vault Comp The new track Greater Manchester Open The New Groups/Training Times Page 1
Stockport Floor and Vault Competition The Stockport Floor and Vault Competition was held on Sunday 11th May in the Newby Rd. Centre. Congratulations to the SSoG Overall Champions, Ava Hodson, Libby Coffey and Lily Ashton. It was the first competition for many of our gymnasts and they all did well. The results can be downloaded on the website. The competition was well attended and a big thanks to all who helped make it a big success. It was good to see new clubs at the competition, such as Avondale. Looking at the pictures, we really should get organised with the leotards! Page 2
National Grades Finals The North West Grade 5 Team came 2nd in the National Finals in Birmingham this weekend. Good performances all round with the NW collecting 2nd and 3rd overall. Susan was the travelling reserve for the team and went round all apparatus. Great to be part of a successful team, itching to get on the apparatus and perform. A big well done to Mercedes Miladinovic, who we have seen in multiple competitions at SSoG, back from injury and so close to being crowned overall champion. Centre Improvements Continental Sports came and fitted the tumble track and we were relieved when everything fitted, without modification. The structure has had handrails fitted and they will be finished off with safety netting and painted/covered in carpet in the next week or so. The Dance studio really will be done now. We have 3 quotes for performance floors and will be making our minds up soon. Coaches lockers will be next. GM Open The Greater Manchester Open is on the weekend of 14th/15th June and we have a record number of gymnasts entered as they achieved the qualifying score. We have never had any gymnasts competing at FIG level and this year we have 3 in the Regional FIG competition, Faye, Susan and Becky. Timings are as below and a very early start on Saturday, registration at 7.45 in Wigan! Saturday 14th Round 1 Warm up at 8.00 Novice aged 10 Grace Haughton Round 3 Warm up at 3.15 Novice aged 11 Rebecca Roberts Charlotte Wells Martha Yates Lauren Paolo Amy Robinson Senior Regional Level 4 Chloe Andrew Abigail Marshall Amy Harrison Chloe Astley Caitlin Crews Georgia Hewitt Georgia Mather Rebecca Paolo Sunday 15th Round 6 Warm up at 1.30 Regional FIG Susan Roberts Rebekah Mooney Faye Baxendale Performance Coach The role of Performance Coach has been advertised on various websites and we are looking for some applicants that will take the gym to where we want to be. This is an exciting development at the club and we do hope that we can find a coach who will fit in and provide the much needed expertise to set training programmes and mentor our existing coaches. Last date is mid-june. Fingers crossed. Page 3
Profiles We looked at some new profiles during April and May to replace the 4 exercise set that we have been doing for many years. The new exercises are based on some American experience with gymnasts and looked like they may fit the bill. In addition they had a set of target scores for gymnasts at different level/ages. makes sense at the moment. Pre-Novice targets look low and the conditioning in the older gymnasts looks suspect? Needless to say, those with the high scores, keep up the good work, those below the targets, time to improve/ condition. The tests are based on: 3 way splits, jump test, sprint test, chins, leg lifts, press ups and handstand hold. The target is quite low for the pre-novice gymnast and get progressively higher for the older gymnast on the basis that you should be able to run faster and hold a handstand longer as you get older. The results will be discussed by the coaches as not all of it AGM High Level Summary The Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 14th May and it was good to see a couple of new faces. As the club has expanded, now over 800 signed on and paying BG fees, the number of members that are happy to be on the board is at an all time low. There seems a willingness to help out, but to be on the board.. Not Really Me!. To recap. SSoG Board Chairman Secretary Treasurer Head Coach Welfare Officer Health & Safety Rec Coordinator Head Judge Volunteer Coordinator Fund Raising Coach Representative SSoG CIC Directors CEO Finance Director Page 4 Phil Richardson Karen Dooley Gareth Martin Mike Healy Sarah Johnson Vacant (Covered by Phil and Karen) Position not now needed. Nicola Havery Vacant Vacant Mike Healy Steve Cleaver Position not now needed. Company Secretary Karen Dooley HSE Jennifer Lambert The minutes will be available in due course. As usual at the AGM, once the official business was complete the conversation turned to other matters. The hot topics were very familiar; communication on what was going on in the club and how to encourage more people to get involved. Communication Despite newsletters, the notice board, the website, facebook and announcements at the end of each session, not all of the messages are getting through to all that need to hear them. We do have email addresses and we will add this method in and we will try to be a little clearer at gym sessions with the announcements. Parents do need to keep up with current forms too, by having a look at the newsletter, like the facebook page and visit the website. Volunteering It was agreed that since the move to Newby Rd. the character of the club has changed as we don t have to come together every session to set up and dismantle kit. Hence a separate parents volunteering group will be set up, organised by Carrie Mather to make sure that when we need help, it s available. Read the article and attend the meeting on June 21st.
New Groups and Rotations At the parents meeting at the beginning of May the 2014 development plan was presented with a shuffling round of the groups and a rationalisation of the hours. There will be a period of time while the groups settle in and we make sure that we have the right gymnasts training together with the right coach. One thing is for sure that there will be more time spent on focussed conditioning. Other News We have cancelled the Adult classes on Sunday nights. The attendance was not as strong as on Friday nights and the sessions are subject to cancellation due to competitions and staff training activities. This means that we now have an opening for other activities, such as Children s Parties. Look out for heavier advertising in the next few weeks, but in the meantime keep it in mind and ask one of the staff for details. We had 3 bikes stolen from the bike shelter this month in 2 separate incidents. We have contacted the police and they have advised us to make sure that all bikes are securely locked up. The preferred method is a D lock and there are cemented in hoops that will help. All people are asked to be vigilant and report suspicious behaviour in that area. We will monitor. Volunteering - Plan B You may have spotted a new notice board in the viewing gallery. This is run by the parents for the parents. We need as many people as possible to sign up to help in the café, or at competitions and Saturday morning registration. There will be a meeting for parents on 21st June at 1.00pm in the café where Page 5 Now is the time to volunteer! all will be explained. For now please sign up to help out at the Frank Williams Competition; even 1 hour would be appreciated. Carrie Mather has picked up on the organisation and there will be regular emails sent to parents and updates on the SSoG Facebook page. Next step, to kickstart the fundraising The Teen Gym sessions have started and the attendance has been really good. There is mixed ability from compete beginners, through experienced rec to retired club gymnasts. Still lots of room so contact Jade for details and a trial session. The sessions run from 4.30 to 7.30 on a Saturday. There are forever jobs to be done around the gym, some of which we can do ourselves, others need professionals such that we get it right, safe and legal. This month we need to do PAT testing and we would hope that among our 800 members that there was an electrician who could provide us with a quote and complete the job. We also have a tap that needs replacing in the ladies, do we have a plumber? Bev organises these repairs and if you are able to help with these jobs or have a profession that would be helpful to the gym, then do get in touch with her. The new barrel shaped foam support for back walkovers and flicks has arrived at the Offerton centre and will be put to good use. We also have a shopping list for the replacement of equipment that is reaching the end of it s life and some new items that will assist coaches in the preparations needed for new moves. Hopefully this will be a final reminder for parents who attend daytime sessions. PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE FLEXIBLE BARRIER IN FRONT OF THE FORGEFIX BUILDING. The barrier is opened on a regular basis to let their wagons out of the car park and it must not be blocked. Next door are currently very patient.