THE Bermuda Gymnastics team have just returned triumphant from the Americana competition in Niagara Falls, Canada, where they took a host of individual medals and won the team award. This is the first time that Bermuda has attended this meet, now in its tenth year, which attracts clubs from all over Canada and already there are plans to return in 2008.

The Bermuda team ranged from age nine to 15 years and between them achieved 31 scores of over 10.0.

The highest score of the day for the Bermuda gymnasts went to Kaisey Griffith with a 13.7 on the vault which also won awards for the best vault and bar swinger of the day.

Coach Tina Williams said the girls enjoyed the workout where they could showcase their technical skills but the challenge now was to focus back on the basics which will be required in the Island Games this summer.

She said: “Coming back to prepare for this competition is really hard. It is easier to work on the harder routines than the really simple ones.”

She said the routines for the Island Games were pitched at a lower level as a courtesy to countries which didn’t have the equipment and facilities for the top-level stuff.

It means Bermuda’s youngest competitors will be faced with three different floor routines over three days in the Isle of Man over the week of July 16.

Williams said: “Although this meet will include lower level skills it is a very complex set of competitions with its many changes and compulsory elements. The team have already set their goals on gold and will be doing everything possible to work hard and stay focused over the next few weeks.”

Now the team are gearing up for their final test before the Island Games — the US IGC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in June.

The medal count

Level nine

Kaisey Griffith (BHS) Overall 1st, Vault + Bars 1st, Beam + Floor 3rd

Riann Ming (BHS) Overall 2nd, Bars and Beam 2nd, Vault and Floor 3rd

Morgan Beckles (BHS) Overall 3rd, Beam 1st, Floor 2nd, Bars 3rd

Caitlyn Mello (BHS) Overall 4th, Floor 1st, Vault + Bars 2nd

The team won first place for the team troph

Level seven

Morgan Cleave (BHS) Overall 2nd, Beam 1st, Floor + Bars 2nd, Vault 3rd

Tabytha Hofheins (Gilbert) Overall 4th, Beam 3rd

Rosie Finnigan (BHS), Rebecca Forgesson (Saltus) and Catherine Araujo (BHS) all competed in the higher age group for level 7 and were part of the overall third place team trophy.