Gymnasts from Hemlington are celebrating after they almost swept the board at the North of England Sports Acrobatics Championships held last week in North Tyneside.

Club members Alisa Pitt and Julia Pacitto took first place in the Womens Pairs National Level One followed closely by Nikki Wilson and Samantha Thompson.

In the Womens Tumbling National Level One, the club completely swept the board when Ailsa Pitt won the competition, Samantha Thompson came second, Nikki Wilson, third, Christina Little, fourth, Emma White, fifth and Julia Pacitto, sixth.

Joanne Tickle, Assistant Manager at Hemlington Lake and Recreational Centre, said: "We're particularly pleased with these results because this is the first time our gym club has entered an acrobatic competition, so their achievements are even more rewarding.

"We hope to have some more good news soon when Ailsa Pitt and Julia Pacitto join a team representing the North of England in the National Team Finals in Staffordshire on Friday 21 July."

l Fitness instructor Gerry Hahir is leaving Wear Valley after 16 years to take up a new post as manager of Jades Leisure Club at Teesside Sports Centre, Barnard Castle.

"I would like to thank past and present members of Visions Leisure Club and class participants for their support and loyalty over the years," said Hehirm who has been based at the Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex in Bishop Auckland.

Four ice-skaters have returned triumphant from a competition in Hull where they all collected medals.

Ashleigh Roberts 12, Lisa Parkin, 10, Toni Murray, 8 and Caroline Wilkinson, 12 were competing in the Hull Open Competition at the Hull Ice Arena where each category consisted of up to 18 skaters from all over the country.

Ashleigh was finished first in the U-12s Elementary while Lisa achieved the same accolade in the U-10s.

Toni, who like the rest of the girls is coached at Billingham Ice Forum, came second in the U-8s Elementary while Caroline was first in the Preliminary 12-13-year-old age group.

It was Lisa's second success in as many weeks as the previous weekend she won the U-10s Elementary at Billingham Ice Forum.

Coach Karen Murtagh, who teaches Ashleigh and Lisa while Stuart Wilson supervises Toni and Caroline, is pleased the Billingham skaters are earning some recognition and assisting in putting the town's name on the map.

"We do have a lot of good skaters at Billingham," she said.

"The kids from Billingham Forum are doing so well, it is nice to be able to promote them especially as our arena is under the threat of closure ."