Barry Wright
Two of the youngest members of Sarnia's Bluewater Gymnastics Club came home with two medals each from the recent Eastern Canadian Gymnastics Championships.
While proudly displaying their medals, Hayley Tarboton, 10, and Jovi Richardson, 9, said they were pleased with the results and had fun at the competition in Moncton, New Brunswick, which featured young athletes from across Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
Tarboton won a gold medal as part of Team Ontario and captured a silver medal on the bars in the Pre-Novice Aspire Division.
She also placed 5th on the balance beam, 6th in the all-around competition and 8th in floor exercises.
Richardson also won a gold medal with Team Ontario in the Pre-Novice Elite division, as well as capturing a bronze on the balance beam.
She was 5th on the bars, 5th in the all-around competition and 8th in floor exercises.
“For them to go (to Eastern Canadians) for the first time, we were hoping for a good experience for them, so for them to do as well as they did was a bonus,” said coach Liz Brubaker. “Knowing how young they are, how inexperienced they are, we just didn't know what to expect. But they both hit four events and did really well. They exceeded our expectations.”
Although their competitive season is now over the pair will continue to train through the summer with an eye on the new season in September, Brubaker said.
Meantime, another member of the club, Serena Baker, 17, will compete at the Canadian Gymnastics Championships next week in Gatineau, Quebec.