EIGHT gymnasts from Monmouth Trampoline Club competed in the Welsh Championships in Cardiff on Sunday, and they all came away with a medal.

Lawrence Johnson became Welsh Champion in the Under 11 age group. Lawrence was the only boy to qualify for his section, although there were eight boys in the U11 Novice class which he won last year, aged nine.

His mum, Kylie, said: “We are very proud of Lawrence. To qualify he had to really step up the difficulty level of his routine, which has kept him challenged, and he did it with ease.”

Lawrence has been involved with the sport for a year and a half.

He said: “I like trampolining because it’s not like other sports where you’re in a team – it’s just you, and if you make a mistake then you’re out.

“I was over the moon to win, it meant a lot. I put in lots of practice – about three or four hours a week. I enjoy flying through the air. Going to the Olympics one day is a goal.”

In the novice section Zoe Cripwell won the Under 11 group, Jessica Maylin came second in the Under 13 group, Robin Skailes came second in the Under 15 group, Simon Measures came second in the over 18 section and Maggie Fodeninglis came third in the Under 11 group.

The Under 11 team, consisting of Zoe Cripwell, Maggie Fodeninglis, Amelie Welsby (fifth) and Sophie Harman-Kay (sixth), won the team event.

Next weekend Zoe and Jessica will be representing Wales in the Regional Team Finals at Birmingham. The future is looking bright for the club with all these very good youngsters and the membership numbers have now increased to forty.