BGA Host 9th Annual International Challenge
The Bermuda Gymnastics Association [BGA] hosted their 9th annual Bermuda International Gymnastics Challenge on Saturday [March 16] at the National Training Center in St. David’s, with over 100 athletes taking part in the event.
A spokesperson said, “It was a great way to finish a very busy few months as the Bermuda Gymnastics Association [BGA] prepared to host their 9th annual Bermuda International Gymnastics Challenge [BIGC].
“Thanks to the support of many volunteers under the management of Meet Director Kimberley McHardy the BGA received nothing but praise from their International guests on Sunday, March 17th, 2019 at the closing party. It was a great weekend where clubs officials, coaches and athletes got to meet and greet while sharing their passion for such a great sport.
“The Bermuda International Gymnastics Challenge which featured teams from Barbados, two Canadian teams from Ontario and P.E.I, Cayman Islands, three USA teams from NYC and Alaska, as well as local teams Bermuda Gymnastics Association and Quality Gymnastics. These countries made up a total of 9 unique teams that came to the island to display their talents and challenge our local teams. For most of the teams this was their first time to the island and vowed to return.”
Meet Director Kimberley McHardy said, “It was exciting for us to have a mixture of returning and new teams visiting the Island to attend our meet. Some clubs attended with just a few athletes the year before but returned with a larger group this year while other teams like Pacific Rim from Alaska stated that they would like to return with their full team next year which speaks to their support of the event and what it offers”.
The spokesperson said, “The BGA stepped outside of their normal parameters of the meet to include free education sessions to coaches on the Friday where local sport related professionals such as Mark Da Pontes from New Life Chiropractic spoke about the importance of respiration in sport and movement development and Hannah King, Assistant Psychologist/Therapist/Mental Performance Consultant, spoke about ways to enhance communication between coaches and athletes and gave great ideas about why we need to also remind ourselves as coaches to put the individual first.”
Ms. McHardy said, “It is important to me that we take time to share and collaborate with other coaches and clubs to support positive development of Gymnastics which is known across the world as an important fundamental sport. Bermuda has some amazing experts in their fields that has been supporting our athletes and me personally, so I was honored that a few of them were willing to donate their time to share their expertise with our international guests”.
The spokesperson went on to say, “Athletes were spoiled with gifts from Water Hazard, a Welcome Ice Cream Social at Grotto Bay and closing event held at Tom Moore’s Tavern featuring local entertainment member Andrew Hanwell of Blackstar and the Warwick Gombey Troop who stopped by to end the evening with an interactive performance filled with excitement and tradition.
“Prior to the start of the actual event, the Bermuda Gymnastics Association [located in St.Davids] spent the last few months collaborating with local business such as Marketplace, Under Cover Tents, Lindos, Barritts, Dunkleys and Ashley’s Lemonade to ensure the events officials and spectating crowds were well taken care of.
“The BLDC worked feverishly to transform the clubs washrooms as the countdown started towards their annual meet. On the day we were honoured to have members of the BOA, The Department of Youth and Sport and the BLDC stop in to support the event.
“Summary of the Highest Scores per level:
“Boys
- Theo Griffiths Bermuda Gymnastics took the level 4 All Around Title with a 55.30
- Luca Bortoli Bermuda Gymnastics took the level 5 All Around Title with a 57.60
- Jazzair Best Barbados took the level 6 All Around Title with a 58.00
- Max Blakeney Bermuda Gymnastics took the JD All Around Title with a 64.10
- Taj Lowery Bermuda Gymnastics took the level 10 All Around Title with a 66.20
“Girls
- Charlotte Lesage – Bermuda Gymnastics [All age groups] was the Copper 1 All around Champion with a 35.40
- Alexandra Daniel – Quality Gymnastics took the highest All Around Score across all Copper 2 age divisions with a 37.25
- Jacqueline Caruso of Progressive Gymnastics, NYC took the highest All Around Score across all Bronze Divisions with a score of 35.30
- Marseille Williams – Bermuda Gymnastics took the highest All Around Score across all age categories in the Bronze Diamond Divisions with a 36.6
- Isabella Charleson of Bermuda Gymnastics walked away with the highest score across all age divisions in the IGC Gold Category with a 35.45
- Gabrielle Smith from Bermuda Gymnastics took the highest All Around score across all ages in USAG Level 2 category with a 37.00
- Rayna Abbott from Bermuda Gymnastics took the highest score across all age divisions in the USAG Level 3 category with a 35.95
- Avani Patton of Quality Gymnastics took the highest score across all age division in USAG Level 4 category with a 35.90
- Samantha Hassan from Artistic Gymnastics, NYC took the highest score across all age divisions in the USAG level 5 category with a 35.90
- Gracie MacKenzie from Island Gymnastics Academy, P.E.I, Canada took the highest score across all age divisions in USAG Level 6 category with a 35.95
- Haley Eddinger from Artistic Gymnastics, NYC, USA took the highest score across all age divisions in USAG level 7 category with a 37.05
- Kennedy Kowalski from Bermuda Gymnastics took the highest score across all age divisions in the EXCEL Gold category with a 37.30″
