Cornwall’s oldest Gymnastics Club, started in 1972, and based in Penzance Leisure Centre since 2005.
We aim to provide a safe, child friendly environment in which all our members can experience General and Artistic gymnastics, to the highest level of their ability, under the supervision of BGA qualified coaches.
We are a purely voluntary club and provide gymnastic activities, for mostly girls, but with a small number of boys. Ages range from 5 up to 18 years, and from beginners up to gymnasts competing in County/Regional/National competitions.
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A Brief history of Penzance Gymnastics Club
The club was first formed in 1972 by Mrs. Wendy Ash, herself a former gymnast, who had to travel as far afield as Bristol for some of her training. Penzance Gymnastics Club is Cornwall’s oldest gymnastics club. The club was started in Alverton School with about 20 girls training for 2 hours per week. We currently have 150+ members, 16 qualified coaches and train for a total of 18 hours per week.
The club has produced many county champions from the beginning and has had many girls in the regional squads, starting with Wendy Blackler the first Cornish girl to gain a South West colour and Debbie Hill in 1975, the first Cornish girl selected for a National squad trial.
The number of gymnasts slowly increased, especially when the club moved into Cross Street, Penzance in 1979. This move allowed more time to be devoted to coaching the higher ability gymnasts and saw the start of boy’s gymnastics.
In 1982 Janice and Tony Bragg joined the coaching strength of the club, which at that time boasted 3 of the 4 highest qualified coaches in Cornwall. The club has continued over the years to produce county, regional and national level girl gymnasts, and started many boys on gymnastic careers. Stephen Jehu the recent British Under 18 men’s champion started as a youngster with Penzance gym club, before moving to Truro and Exeter Gym Clubs to take advantage of the facilities and coaching there.
Over the last 36 years the club has through its own efforts, provided all the gymnastic equipment needed for our gymnasts and has supported the county and regional associations, through running coaching and judging courses and providing venues for county and regional competitions and squads. Some of our coaches also coach in local schools helping to develop the gymnastics skills of pupils with after- school gym clubs, gymnastic lessons and providing expertise for school training days and summer schools.
In August 2005 we moved from the Cross Street gym, into the new Penzance Leisure Centre and continue to train 5 days a week, developing our youngsters skills. The club has still a strong base with about 150+ registered members and a strong team of volunteer coaches and helpers.