SPLITZ Gymnastics Club has been awarded three top awards for 2020 by the sport’s official governing body, British Gymnastics Northern Ireland (BGNI), with the winning categories including ‘Club of the Year’, ‘Volunteer of the Year’, and ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’.

2020 has been a difficult year for all of us, and especially so for indoor sports.

Classes may have been cancelled but the hard work continued for Splitz coaches and children alike.

To keep their gymnasts engaged, staff had to adapt by engaging with their members online.

They utilised a variety of platforms – from live Facebook sessions, which could also be viewed at a later time of the gymnasts’s choosing, to interactive Zoom online classes aimed at different ages, levels and abilities.

All gymnasts were offered training, from recreational standard to squad members.

It wasn’t all about the hard work – they ran numerous online events to retain the children’s interest all throughout Lockdown.

One event was a ‘Design a Leotard’ competition, with the winning entry from Poppie Beddard brought to life by Leotastic Nic, and posted to Poppie to enjoy during her home training.

The Easter Bake-Off and cake competitions proved to be a big hit with a variety of delicious pictures of the entries submitted. Kyra Duffy and Libby Robertson were triumphant this time.

At Hallowe’en, it was all about pumpkin decorating and dressing up, and there were some novel submissions. Tori Lilly scooped the top prize for this.

Christmas saw some stiff competition for the ’Xmas-themed ‘gymnastics move’ event. The children demonstrated great ingenuity in their entries. Beth McGowan endured the winter cold to capture her winning garden leap.

Tirelessly

Volunteer staff worked tirelessly to develop the club, many of whom were key workers, to provide an outlet for the Splitz family to enjoy the sport they love.

They attended online workshops, courses and webinars to help best adapt the club to the current needs of its members throughout Lockdown and to best prepare them to support all members both physically and mentally when they were able to return.

Committed to re-opening when restrictions allowed, the club was able to return to in-person, non-contact classes for six weeks in September before it was back to online training sessions when the second Covid wave hit.

Not only did Splitz win the coveted ‘Club of the Year’ category, but two of its volunteer coaches also scooped awards.

Carole Cooke was awarded ‘Volunteer Coach of the Year’ for her hard work and dedication to the club.

Despite being a key worker during the pandemic, Carole found the time to plan and deliver weekly regular online gymnastics sessions.

Her enthusiasm for volunteering has meant the club has been able to expand, and she completed coaching courses in different disciplines (Acrobatics and General Gymnastics), increasing the variety of sessions the club can offer, and also completed her judging course.

She has paved the way for other parents to have the confidence to volunteer as she has proven what a rewarding experience it can be.

The club’s third award from BGNI was for ‘Young Volunteer Coach of the Year’, which recognises the important work carried out by an up-and-coming volunteer under the age of 25.

This award was presented to Ellie Rutledge. Ellie was herself a gymnast who began volunteering after Splitz Gymnastics Club started its Leadership Academy.

She has completed her gold Leadership Academy award and continues to expand her volunteering roles, and she is now a qualified Level 1 BG Acrobatic Gymnastics Coach and has also passed her Club Judging Course.

Before re-opening, Ellie created videos to highlight the new Covid procedures. She edited these herself in a child-friendly way to help reduce any member anxiety upon returning, and to help ease the transition into the club’s ‘new way’ of operating, post-Covid.

Ellie is a true role model to our young generation of gymnasts in the club and is always on hand to help in any way she can.

Nominated

Five other members of the coaching team were also nominated for the awards.

Head Coach Jennifer Hanna was nominated for ‘Participation Coach of the Year’, Siobhan Fisher for ‘Volunteer Coach of the Year’, Julia Campbell for ‘Welfare Officer of the Year’, Natasha Cox for ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ and Rhian Thompson for ‘Young Coach of the Year’.

All are extremely valued members of the Splitz team and their contributions are immeasurable in keeping the club operating seamlessly.

Club owner and Head Coach Jennifer Hanna said: ‘‘Lockdown has been an extremely tough period for all Northern Ireland gymnastics clubs and their families.

“As an indoor sport we have had the tightest restrictions placed upon us, requiring us to close for extended periods, and then to cap class numbers significantly on return to non-contact training when restrictions allowed.

“We are, however, so proud of what has been achieved with the support of all the gymnastics clubs in Northern Ireland.

“In a year most of us would rather forget, we at Splitz feel honoured to have achieved so much.

“It shows that the hard work, determination and support of our gymnasts, coaches and families really pays off.”

Class numbers are currently capped because of Government restrictions but as they begin to ease over the coming months, spaces will become available in the club’s classes.

Parents, schools and community groups that are interested in what the club has to offer are invited to email: splitz.gymnasticsni@yahoo.com.