Welcome to Notts Gymnastics Academy, a dedicated elite training facility, with success from county to an international level of performance.
Notts Gymnastics Academy is one of the most successful clubs in Great Britain, with a wealth of gymnasts achieving success at European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic Games. There are over 50 Women’s Artistic members and the standard of these gymnasts varies from 5 year old girls enjoying the building blocks of artistic gymnastics to world class gymnasts. In April 1997, advanced gymnasts from Notts Bigwood and Rushcliffe Gym Clubs shared the newly built East Midlands Gymnastics Centre facility at Rushcliffe Leisure Centre in West Bridgford, Nottingham. They decided to join forces under the leadership of Head Coach, Claire Starkey. On the April 1st 1998, a new club, Notts Gymnastics Club, was formed and affiliated to the governing body BGA. The gymnasts competed at county, regional, national and international competitions. In 2010, Notts Gymnastics Club amalgamated with Notts School of Gymnastics (Boys), Notts Acro and General Gymnastics disciplines to form the Notts Gymnastics Academy.
AIMS
Notts Gymnastics Academy will attempt to instill a lifelong appreciation of movement, exercise and sport and to teach children the rewards and qualities of dedication and hard work, helping each individual to reach their potential as a gymnast and enjoy a fit and healthy sporting career. To have gymnasts from Notts represent Great Britain and England at major international tournaments (Olympics, Worlds and Europeans).
ACHIEVEMENTS
Notts Women's Artistic have 5 gymnasts selected for National squads for 2011/12
WAG World Class Squad Becky Downie, Niamh Rippin GB Starter Squad Megan Coates WAG Home Nations Development Squad Megan Parker, Christine Tse.
Notts won British Gymnastics New Club of the Year in the first year of operation 1997
Amy Dodsley was trained at Notts from 6 years oldand went on to be the first Notts gymnast to be selected for a British Olympic Team.
Claire Starkey, Head Coach of Notts Gymnastics Club received the Coach of the Year Award 2003, in recognition of the contribution she made through her dedication and commitment to the gymnasts.
Amy Dodsley received the Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award, 2003.
Notts received accreditation of the GymMark in June 2005. This is an assurance of quality tested by British Gymnastics on behalf of Sport England.
Notts have had over 30 gymnasts in the GB Squads from 1997.
Becky Downie: 7 times British AA champion.
Ellie Downie: British Level 4 Champion 2008, British Level 2 Champion 2010.
Ruby Straw: Level 4 Champion 2004
Jordan Lipton British Espoir National Champion 2006
Notts Team Champions 2007, 2010, 2011
GB Olympic 2008 team of 6 included 2 Notts gymnasts. Laura Jones and Becky Downie who in the same year became British all around Senior Champion.
Becky Downie achieved Britain's best Olympic gymnastics all-around result when she finished 12th in the individual competition, eclipsing Beth Tweddle’s previous best.
Notts members Niamh Rippin and Becky won Silver as part of the British Team in European Championships 2010, Notts had more European finalists then any other GB club in 2010.
Jordan Lipton competing at the Commonwealth Games for Scotland 2010
Notts are currently setting their sights on the London Olympics in 2012.
Notts have also developed gymnasts that have used their gymnastics experience to help them start a new career. Two gymnasts, who were not Olympians, secured scholarships in the USA. We have coaches who were gymnasts with the club and now judge and coach as a career in gymnastics. Three previous Notts coaches are now National coaches.
Notts have had interest from film producers, with gymnasts appearing in films, winning awards in film festivals around the world and attending red carpet premieres.
Nicole Pavier and Lillie Buttery star in Channel 4 film "Chalk"
British Gymnastics film, to watch click on link below
BBC Documentary featuring Notts Laura Jones and Becky Downie and thier journey to Beijing Olympics 2008. To watch, click on link below
A documentary about performance, pressure and the passion to compete.
Every year hundreds of young women aim to join the elite team of gymnasts representing their country. Every year hundreds fail. This film follows the lives of those gifted few who succeed.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS
2004
Amy Dodsley - our first ever gymnast selected for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
Ruby Straw Level 4 British Champion
2005
Becky Downie British Espoir Champion
Laura Jones British Espoir Runner Up
British Teams Championships 2nd place
2006
Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, Australia.
Becky Downie, youngest member of the team at 14, Individual bronze on beam TEAM SILVER
Women's European Championships, Volos, Greece.
Becky and Laura in GB Junior Team
Becky Downie British Junior Champion
Jordan Lipton British Espoir Champion
British Teams 3rd place
British Schools Junior Champions
2007
Women's British Teams Champions
GB Squad - World Championships, Stuttgart, Germany.
Becky Downie and Laura Jones help team to finish in 6th place to secure a place for the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008
Becky Downie British Junior Champion
Laura Jones British Junior Championships 3rd
AYOF (Australian Youth Olympic Festival)
Jordan Lipton and Niamh Rippin represent GB to take a team bronze
2008
Louise Mercer began a 4 year gymnastics university scholarship in Denver, USA after being spotted by an American scout
Laura Jones and Becky Downie Beijing Olympics included in Great Britain team of 6
Becky Downie EAST MIDLANDS BBC YOUNG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Becky Downie became the highest placing all around gymnast at the Olympic games in the history of British Gymnastics
Becky Downie BRITSH ALL ROUND SENIOR CHAMPION
Ellie Downie OVERALL BRITISH CHAMPION, LEVEL 4
2 gymnasts in the Senior GB squad, 3 gymnasts in the Junior GB squad, 2 in the World Class Start squad and 2 in the 9-11 years Home County Squad
2009
Jordan Lipton Scottish Senior Champion, Northern European Champion
Becky Downie British All Around Senior Champion
Becky Downie AMERICAN CUP 2009, 4TH PLACE AA
Ellie Downie ALPHA FACTOR CHAMPION
Ellie Downie, Caitlin Roberts NATIONAL SQUAD MEMBERS
2010
Ellie Downie OVERALL BRITISH CHAMPION LEVEL 2, RUNNER UP AT ELITE GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP, REGIONAL EAST MIDLANDS CHAMPION 2010, INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FRANCE, 1ST PLACE AA, ALPHA FACTOR CHAMPION
Caitlin Roberts INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FRANCE 6TH PLACE AA
Ruby Straw JUNIOR APPARATUS Vault SILVER MEDAL Floor BRONZE MEDAL
Ellie Downie, Caitlin Roberts NATIONAL SQUAD MEMBERS
Becky Downie, Niamh Rippin EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010, TEAM SILVER
Lucy Valentine ALPHA FACTOR OPEN BRONZE MEDALLIST
2011
Ellie Downie, Caitlin Roberts, Megan Parker, Christine Tse, Megan Coates National Squad Members
Caitlin Roberts SILVER, THE ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS Katy Bramley, 6th ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS, ENGLAND SQUAD SELECTION
Megan Parker LITTLE MISS ALPHA FACTOR LEVEL 3 CHAMPION, BRITISH COMPULSORY LEVEL 3 SILVER MEDAL, AGE GROUP NATIONAL C'SHIPS 5th
Christine Tse LITTLE MISS ALPHA FACTOR LEVEL 4 BRONZE MEDALLIST, BRITISH COMPULSORY LEVEL 4 4th, AGE GROUP NATIONAL C'SHIPS 5th
Notts Team, BRITISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONS
Niamh Rippin BRONZE on BEAM, GBR v SPAIN
Niamh Rippin BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS INDIVIDUAL SILVER MEDAL/FLOOR, BRONZE /FAULT
Billie MacKenzie BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL SILVER /BEAM, AWARDED TROPHY FOR ARTISTIC MERIT Ellie Downie, ESPOIR ALPHA FACTOR CHAMPION
Notts Team Level 4 - FIG ALPHA FACTOR TEAM CHAMPIONS
Becky Downie TEAM GB, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, TOKYO (Olympic Qualfying Team)
Billie MacKenzie, Katy Bramley ENGLAND JUNIOR TEAM MEMBERS, RUSHMOOR ROSEBOWL INTERNATIONAL, TEAM SILVER
Eden Edwards, LEVEL 2 RETAKE CHAMPION, Katy Bramley JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPION
Niamh Rippin TEAM GB, International de Gymnastique du Pas-de-Calais Coupes de la Ville d'Arques GOLD/FLOOR, SILVER/VAULT, BRONZE/ALL-AROUND
2012
East Midlands Regional Championships
Club Grade 6 Champion Katie Liwoshko, Club Grade 7 Champion Carrie Brown
Compulsory Level 5 Champion Ramiyah Kofi, Compulsory Level 4 Champion Paige Vick, Compulsory Level 3 Champion Christine Tse
English Championships: Niamh Rippin, Senior BRONZE AA, Katy Bramley Junior BRONZE AA, Ellie Downie Espoir SILVER AA
British Compulsory 2 Megan Parker BRONZE AA
