A THRIVING gymnastics club based in Colburn, Catterick and Thirsk is celebrating three of its teams qualifying for the TeamGym British Championships in South Wales in July.

The qualification was achieved after the teams from Richmondshire, Thirsk, Dales Gymnastics Club competed in the Northern qualifier.

Richmondshire Royals, comprised of India Clay, Violet Lumley, Chloe Proud, Sienna Cooper and Evie Reeves, have qualified for the Level Three Youth Women's Micro Team event at the British Championships.

The Richmondshire Level 2 Junior Mixed Micro Team, formed of Henry Chapman, Lily Rodgers, Georgia Wilson, Evie Almack and Maisie Binks, also qualified, along with the Richmondshire Thirsk Dales Disability Team, comprised of Charlotte Morris, Jack Allen, Isaac Clay and Hollie Bowers.

Head coach, Rebecca Clay, said: “This is an exciting moment for the club as the number of our teams qualifying for the British Championships is growing year on year.

"Our gymnasts work incredibly hard both in and outside of the gym and this is fantastic recognition and an exciting opportunity for them to showcase their skills against teams around Britain.

"It took a lot of hard work to get to this point but now the hard work continues as these young people have a British medal in their sights. Whatever happens at the final, this is a huge achievement, and a proud moment for the local area to have 14 gymnasts competing at such a high level."

On top of their training, the club is fundraising to enable its elite TeamGym squad to head to Denmark later this year to work with some of the Danish national coaches.

Members of the squad went last year, and the experience was invaluable, so the club is aiming to raise enough funds to get even more of its gymnasts on this year's trip.

Anyone interested in supporting the club in its fundraising efforts, should contact richmondshiregymenquiries@gmail.com.