THE Bermuda Gymnastics team has just returned from its largest ever meet clutching medals as it wracks up the air miles in preparation for the Island Games.And while the party braved snow and temperatures below of minus 10 in Chicago the next trip sees them heading off to sunny Trinidad and Tobago in late April.

Both trips are about trying new routines in competitive surroundings rather than grabbing glory says coach Tina Williams who nonetheless was impressed with the effort of her girls who were undaunted by the scale of the Chicago meet.

It saw 3,500 gymnasts from five countries — the US, Puerto Rico, Australia, Canada and Bermuda compete in a 170,000 square foot competition hall which boasts five complete gyms — each gym ran its own competition.

Finishing top out of the Bermuda juniors was nine-year-old Tabytha Hofheins, from Gilbert Institute, who placed ninth on vault and fifth on beam.

Closely following was teammate Morgan Cleave, also nine and from BHS who took fourth place on beam.

Her school mate Rosie Finnigan, ten, was the third member of the level seven team but was unfortunate to miss out on the medals.

The next levels saw Morgan Beckles (11, from BHS) take a fourth place on bars.

Kaisey Griffith competed in the senior section, the highest level in the meet, and once again competed in the same group as the Australian national team, an experience that she has shared before at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Coach Tina Williams said: “We have never been to this competition before but we will be sure to place it on our schedule for 2008.

“It was an exciting competition; very well organised and a great experience for the athletes who attended.

“This was probably the biggest meet that the Bermuda gymnastics team have ever competed in.

“It was all about trying new skills — some stuff was not quite there. It’s a bit tougher for the older ones to get back into after the Christmas break.”

She added that team manager Michelle Chadderton was able to organise an added treat for the team — their very first limousine ride back to the airport.

All the girls have now returned to Bermuda to continue training for their next competition — the US vs the Caribbean which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago in April.

“We will take both a junior and a senior team. It’s another chance to compete in a real competition.

“We bring judges in but the girls are on their own apparatus in their own gym — it’s not the same experience.”