Gymnastics British Championships 2017
Photographs by Jo Forrest.

THE Gymnastics British Championships returned over Friday, 24 March to Sunday, 26 March 2017, to the Liverpool ACC. This years event included the 1st Liverpool Schools Gymnastics Festival, that had over 160 children, from 9 Liverpool Schools taking part in the event. The weekend also had many of the British gymnastics stars who took part in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. This meant that the local Primary School children had an opportunity to perform in front of huge crowds on the opening day of the Championships, along with many of their role models and sporting heroes.

Liverpool City Council's Mayoral Lead for Sport, Councillor Tim Moore said:- "The festival has given young people a wonderful opportunity to showcase their gymnastic abilities in a large scale arena, without the pressures of it being a competitive process. This City has a great affinity with gymnastics; from the outstanding achievements of Olympian Beth Tweddle, to Liverpool being the Host City for the British Gymnastics Championships for 7 years running, meaning young people are continually being inspired to take up the sport. The School's festival has been a wonderful display of the skills of young people and has given visitors a sneak peek of the budding sporting stars of the future."

The festival took place in the Auditorium prior to the Championships beginning, with all of the children then involved in a group performance in the main arena, just before the 1st gymnasts took to the floor to begin the Championships.

Garston CE Primary School are 1 of the Schools taking part, and PE specialist, Peter Bowden said:- "It's been a fantastic opportunity for the children to be part of something very different to what many of them have ever experienced. When British Gymnastics got in touch to invite us to be part of it we jumped at the chance. The children have been very excited to be performing at the Echo Arena and they have worked incredibly hard to put together their routine. They'll be watching some top class gymnastics performed by the best in the country afterwards."

Gemma Barton, Head of Participation at British Gymnastics, said:- "It is an exciting opportunity to be able to host the first Liverpool Schools Gymnastics festival. The partnership between British Gymnastics and Liverpool City Council has enabled more local primary school children to experience gymnastics through supporting Schools to set up after School Clubs, where gymnastics is delivered in a fun and creative way. The opportunity for children to then take part in the festival has given them the chance to display their new skills and feel the joy of performance. Following on from the festival, links have been formed between the Schools and Liverpool City Council's Leisure Centres, creating a pathway for the children to continue taking part regularly in gymnastics."

Throughout a spectacular competition, those taking part demonstrated their super human strength, control and artistic skills. From explosive power to the most genteel of movements, all proved to be awe inspiring for those watching. By the end of the Championship weekend, the event proved to be yet again a sell out success.

For full results and also extra information about how you can get involved with British Gymnastics, visit the UK's British Amateur Gymnastics Association's website.

If you took part or attended, please let us know your views and memories of this event via emailing us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.com.