Shock and awe was the reaction from Jump 2b Fit coach Sionna Barton when part of her Bermy Bouncers skipping team qualified for the skipping Grand World Championships in Florida this week.

The Jump 2b Fit Bermy Bouncers, comprised of both, boys and girls, is currently in Florida taking part in the World Jump Rope Championship and Camp in Florida.

“We’re coming home burdened down with medals,” Ms Barton said, “but our biggest shock was when our boys’ relay team took part in the speed 4 X 30 relay.

“Each boy takes a turn doing speed jumping for 30 seconds. They qualified for the Grand World Championship event to be held on Saturday, the fifth day of competition. The first four days of competition are for novices and juniors, but the fifth day is for the best of the best in each category.”

The boys who range in age from ten to 13 years old will be up against teenagers and adults.

“Some of the competitors have been jumping for longer than our kids have been alive,” said Ms Barton. “I am told that novices normally never qualify.”

One of the jumpers, Liam Cleash, ten, said he has only been jumping for five months.

“I was amazed when we qualified because I didn’t know I would make it to the Grands,” he said. “I qualified along with Miles Smith, Yusef Bushara, and Sebastian Lee.”

He said they trained hard during the year and thought they might place, but never in their wildest dreams did they think they would qualify for the Grands.

“I don’t know how we are going to do but I hope we do well,” he said.

After qualifying the entire team went out and celebrated, but now it is back to training.

“We didn’t think we’d be competing on the fifth day,” said Ms Barton. “We expected to be here to take part in the camp. The camp allows the kids to work with other jumpers from around the world.”

She said all day, other people at the competition had been coming up to her and congratulating her and expressing frank surprise.

“The kids jumped their hearts out,” said Ms Barton. “Our time in Florida couldn’t have gone better.”

If the Bermuda boys win this final competition their prize will be a crystal trophy. They will also be considered favourites going into next year’s World Championships to be held in Paris next year.

To watch the competition streamed live go to worldjumprope.org. Also see the Jump 2b Fit Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Jump2bFitBermuda.

Jump 2b Fit is a programme developed by the Bermuda Heart Foundation to encourage young people to get fit and enjoy exercise. The Bermy Bouncers are comprised of students from middle schools across Bermuda. The programme is sponsored by Argus.