34 members of the Splitz gymnastics team travelled to Newtownabbey, to compete for slots to represent the region of Northern Ireland in finals in England in May.

Commenting on the event, Head Coach Jennifer Hanna said: "With this being the largest NI preliminaries to date we went to these championships with an open mind, just hoping to put out clean routines.

"All our gymnasts produced amazing routines and we are super proud of them all.

"A special mention to our Women’s pair of Emma McElwaine and Niamh Breen who were about to compete when there was a power outage in Newtownabbey. They took to the floor after a 30-minute delay with only a battery-operated stereo and the audience having to remain completely silent for the rest of the morning's competition so the gymnasts could hear their music.

"A huge pat on the back to them for remaining calm and having the nerve to continue despite the technical challenges.

"We would like to thank our coaches and parents for their time and support. Attending events of this scale would not be possible without their continued commitment to creating a lifelong love of sport."

 Grade 1 mixed pairs Erin McGoldrick and Dualta McNabb performed a clean routine to a mix of ‘Hooked On A Feeling’ and ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ earning them a gold medal.

Also competing in Grade 1 women’s pair Arabella Thomson and Mollie-Kate Brewster’s hard work paid off earning them a 3rd place medal for their efforts.

Grade 2 women’s group Lucia Allen, Cori McConnell and Lexi McElwaine displayed their challenging and fast-paced ‘Can-can’ themed routine, narrowly missing out on a podium place in 4th position.

Grade 3 women’s group Sofia Allen, Emily Jordan and Lucy Rice performed a clean and entertaining ‘Lion King’ themed routine.

Within the grade 3 women’s pairs competition Splitz Gymnastics had strong representation by three different partnerships.

First up, Niamh Breen and Emma McElwaine took to the floor after a 30-minute wait from the power outage. They performed spectacularly under the circumstances and did both themselves and the club proud. Next, Annie-Rose Bannon and Caoimhe O’Reilly presented a beautiful artistic routine to Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ soundtrack earning a great score and 4th place position just behind partnership Sophie McGrath and Zara Fisher, whose hard work achieved them 3rd place with their upbeat and polished routine.

After a brief break for medal presentations, the day continued with Grade 4 mixed pairs, where the competition is always tight.

Sarah Wilson and Dale Fisher held their own performing their graceful yet sassy routine to a compilation of songs from ‘Top Gun.’ They achieved the highest artistry score within their category and walked away with a 3rd place medal.

Grade 4 women’s pair Poppy Corr and Naoise Kerrin displayed a captivating routine getting a solid score but narrowly missing the podium at 4th place.

In the largest category of the day, Grade 4 women’s groups, Laoise Fogarty, Alicia McElwaine and Phoebe Rutledge showcased a dynamic and dramatic routine.

Also, within Grade 4, Charlotte Farrell, Poppie Bedard and Kyra Duffy executed a solid routine. This was their first time competing this season after coming back from an injury and they did a fantastic job!

Eva-Rose McClusky, Jessica Hanna and Aoife McGuigan’s Youth routine is a real crowd-pleaser with a catchy mix of Nathan Carter’s ‘Wagon Wheel’, Clean Bandit’s ‘Rockabye’ And ‘Cotton Eye Joe'.

The trio performed with great enthusiasm and agility within a highly competitive grade.

Youth women’s pair Emily Hanna and Maeve Duffy’s great performance of their high-energy routine grabbed them a 3rd place spot on the podium.

IDP women’s group Mena O’Reilly, Sarah Rutledge and Ríona Dooris performed two routines, one showcasing balance elements, the other dynamic elements. Their dynamic routine to ‘La Bamba’ and ‘Twist and Shout’ was show-stopping and helped get their well-deserved gold.

Due to the talent shown by Splitz Gymnasts at the championships our IDP trio of Mena O’Reilly, Riona Dooris, Sarah Rutledge and our mixed pair Erin McGoldrick and Dualta McDabb have qualified for finals in England in May.

The good news did not stop there as the NI preliminaries also acted as a trial for the Caledonian Cup where NI, Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland gymnasts come together to compete, with this year’s hosts being Scotland.

Splitz are delighted to announce that five of our gymnasts have been called up to represent NI in this event after their performances in Mallusk.

Well done to Mena O’Reilly, Riona Dooris, Sarah Rutledge, Emily Hanna and Maeve Duffy.

Medal results as follows - G1 WP: Arabella Thompson & Mollie-Kate Brewster 3rd; G1 MXP: Erin McGoldrick and Dualta McNabb 1st; G3 WP Sophie McGrath and Zara Fisher 3rd; G4 MXP Sarah Wilson and Dale Fisher 3rd; YWP Emily Hanna and Maeve Duffy 3rd; IDP WG Mena O’Reilly, Riona Dooris and Sarah Rutledge 1st.