THE Sarnia Trampoline Club continue to reach for the skies. They recently had their third competitive outing of the year at a regional event in Alton comprising grades five, four and three competitions.

Coach Jill Pritchard admitted that each event brings its own mixture of joy and pain, describing it as ‘an all or nothing sort of sport’.

‘At grade three qualification scores can take us on to the national circuit at grade two. The only competitive level higher is national grade one from which the United Kingdom’s international competitors are selected,’ she said.

The Sarnia club did brilliantly in taking team gold in the 17-and-over women’s grade-three event.

Teams from Oxford TC and Reading TC were both beaten by a significant margin, with Sarah Ozanne placing third, Joanna Robinson fourth and Samantha Pritchard eighth.

Ozanne already has a current grade-two qualifying score gained in the June competition. Robinson has previously performed at that grade but now needs to secure a new qualifying score for this season while Pritchard made her first appearance at grade three and did very well to reach the finals stage.

‘The girls reaching the finals were separated by only 10 marks out of a possible 100. At this standard it is often incredibly close,’ said Jill.

In the grade four competitions, Charlie Blackburn in the under-11 boys did very well in only his second outing, placing third, less than one whole mark behind the winner.

‘Charlie was awarded a mark that was less than one whole mark away from a grade-three qualifying score and it is fair to say that he was the victim of some inconsistencies in the approach to judging – a problem which we have become used to, but which is still frustrating,’ Pritchard said.

‘The other so-close-we-could-burst performance came from Anna Le Moigne in the over-17 girls’ grade-four event.’

But for a touch of the mat at the end of her set routine and a tiny step at the end of her voluntary routine, Le Moigne would undoubtedly have been on her way to the next grade three competition too.

‘The end-of-routine deductions can be very harsh but the quality of her performance was definitely good enough to perform at the next level.’

Two first-time competitors who had moved straight into grade four, Tom Cluett in the under-17s and Michael Sermon in the under-15s, both performed very well and came away with second place medals. Sermon was beaten by only 0.2 of a mark.

Chloe Chescoe was the final first timer who competed in the under-13 girls’ grade five and she placed 10th.

‘We are certain that with her determination and excellent competitive attitude she is one to watch for the future,’ said the coach.

Elin Pritchard performed well in her new age group but a mistake just before the end of her set routine cost her dearly and she finished 12th in a very strong field.

‘As a club we are competing with at least 24 clubs from around our region, some of which have been in existence for a number of decades,’ said coach Pritchard.

‘It has been noted by regional officials just how far we have come and how fast.

‘We can also now supply qualified judges for the panels thanks to funding from the Sports Commission.

‘The club continues to develop its coaching base and has eight recently qualified assistant coaches.’

Club nights take place on Sundays and Wednesdays and at the moment there are spaces for new participants.

The club can cater for all ages from eight to adult.

‘As with all island sports clubs our limiting factor is money and with the only real competitive opportunities happening in the UK, we really do need financial support from a sponsor. If there is anyone in a position to help, please feel free to contact a club official through Beau Sejour,’ Pritchard said.