Say Hhhello to Mah Leedle Frend

Please welcome a new addition to the blogosphere, VicGym! This bouncing, bonny babyblog promises news and views on the gymnastics scene in Victoria and around Australia. Can't wait to see what crops up.

Poker? I Don't Even etc etc innuendo here.

Here's an interesting concept for all you coaches and choreographers out there.

We've seen "Enter Sandman" used already this year, and all manner of adapted pop songs in college gymnastics.

Do YOU think an orchestral version of Lady Gaga's "Pokerface" would work as floor music?

It's pretty damn awesome and catchy.

QLD States 2

Thanks to my ever-observant Queensland sources (is it it sunshiney where you are? No, don't answer that. I already know... *shiver and sigh*) who sent me the following info from the Queensland state championships.

The international portion of the Queensland State Championships, which are currently being held at the Sleeman Centre in Chandler, suffered a sadly depleted field, with only three gymnasts competing in the Senior and Junior International divisions. MBC's Larrissa Miller was crowned senior champion by default, being the only competitor in her category (no sign of Amber Fulljames et al). Miller is a beautiful gymnast, but she didn't have the greatest of nights, suffering a fall on bars (her strongest event) and several falls on beam and floor. It is to be hoped she will fare better at the National Championships in Perth and at the Japanese competition she is scheduled to attend.


The Junior International division was won by QAS representative Bridget Beattie, the only one in her category to compete on all four events. Like Miller, Beattie was far from faultless, but she did quite well on beam and floor and avoided large mistakes on bars, although her handstands need some work on the latter apparatus. Teammate Amaya King-Koi, the only other competitor in the Junior International category, did not compete all events. She did pretty well on beam, showing off several difficult skills, but suffered a nasty fall on bars on a rough-looking Jaeger.


MBC's Shar-lee Clark and Georgia-Rose Brown had to sit out the Junior International competition, presumably due to injuries. Rumour has it Clark will miss Nationals too - again.


There was no IDP 10 competition, and only two gymnasts took part in the IDP 8 competition, both from QAS. In the end, Brittany Boffo edged out Tianye Boorman for the AA gold. Both girls displayed good strength, flexibility, skills and confidence on all apparatus. Their leaps and turns need a little work, but other than that they're very promising.


Several other promising girls from the junior IDP ranks had to watch the action from the sidelines, including QAS' Brittany George (who reportedly had elbow surgery a while ago) and MBC's Georgia Godwin and Brianna Wong.


Chloe Sims competed in the Level 10 competition, but did only two events - bars and beam. She suffered falls on both events and failed to medal.

And...

* Emma Longmuir won (National) Level 10.
* Alyce Arrowsmith was spotted judging lower level girls
* MBC's Courtney Haley won Level 9, and was also named QLD Levels gymnast of the year.
* Sam Simpson won QLD International MAG of the Year
* AMBER WON QLD INTERNATIONAL WAG OF THE YEAR! Big love from the Team (B)ambi Queensland Delegation.

QLD States

Little tidbits from Queensland source -

Brittany Boffo won IDP 8, scoring 16.40 on what I'm told was a gorgeous beam routine (A-score 8.2, B-score 8.2).

P-Liddy was in attendance, watching the IDP 5,6,8 girls, National 8 girls, and helping with medal presentations.

I can't seem to find results or work orders anywhere (at GQ or GA websites).

Phantastic Photos

Some great Vics photos can be viewed here.

Everybody give Nade a pat on the back!

"I love my club thiiiiiiiiiis much!"


Oh my God SHOMO'S DOING THE AWKWARD TURTLE!
She officially gets 100 coolness points in my book.


"Aaaaaand it says you're cleared of swine flu. Carry on, dear."


"Pssst! Fi... I forgot the words to the national anthem!"
"That's ok, Britt... so have half the people in the stands."


"Um... didn't you read the dress code on the invitation?"

Sign Flu

Sick, housebound, losing my voice.

Here are some things I'd say if I could speak properly right now.

Back in Perth for several weeks before a return to OSU. Look at that attention to detail, even using fluro orange paint.

That's, "And anyone else with hurty bits" if you can't quite make it out. Stupid camera.

I'd add more o's if I could...

For realsies.

Paintin' Their Nails, Talkin' About Girls...

The NSW Gymnastics Sports Management Committee has taken an interesting, wordy approach to men's Nationals this year. They've strived to make their state MAG contingent more cohesive and confident before hitting Brisbane. I wonder if such an idea has ever (or often) been undertaken by other states in the past.

When you bring a group of athletes together for the first time and expect them to all work together without knowing each other that well, it can lead to some interesting outcomes.

This is true. Not everyone has a clubmate or other familiar face with them to compete in the same division, let alone the same competition.

Solution - slumber party in the gym!

NSW gymnasts in Level 6 U/12 and Level 7 U/13 all stayed in camp overnight at the Sydney Academy of Sport with the NSW team of chaperones as many of them have not been away from home without their parents, so this was an important part of their preparation. The rest of the squad came in on the Sunday for team training which was held at the Northern Beaches Gymnastics Club.

The outcome of the weekend was rewarding and beneficial on so many levels to which NSW will continue with their camp based team weekend and look to work collectively to grow the sport.

The approach is was dubbed an address of the issues, "Teamwork and Formularisation".

I repeat: formularisation.

I repea--nah, too many syllables.

How The West Was Won

WA state championships have been on, how could I have been so neglectful!? I apologise.

Results are here. I'm confused by the 'Winter Challenge' thing but I assume it was incorporated into the competition just as the Chalk Gymnastics Challenge was at the Victorian state championships. Oh, you didn't notice? That's alright, not too many did.

Yes, Lauren Mitchell's got herself a 6.8 difficulty value on beam (6.4 on Day 2) so I really hope she can work towards London with it and atone for Beijing. Her Day 2 all-around total was 105.700, compared with potential national title rival Shona Morgan's 108.835. As far as I can understand the results, Lauren was the ONLY senior female competitor so she has won the state AA title by default.

Or something.



ETA: Ohhhhkay, apparently those Winter Challenge results are NOT standing in for/incorporated into/particularly relevant to the state title component and final standings therein. Stay tuned for actual state results, I'm away until later this evening.