THE next Beth Tweddle or Max Whitlock might just have been competing in Burnley last weekend as the Best Centre played host to the Burnley School Sport Partnership (BSSP) Gymnastics competition.

The event, for primary school children, saw more than 160 youngsters competing from across the area in eight events, split into non gymnasts and gymnasts.

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BSSP School Games Support Officer Paddy Martin hailed the success of the event and said he hopes the day will inspire a future generation of gymnasts.

He said: “The number of children at the event was brilliant to see, and helped to show the importance and popularity of gymnastics in the Burnley area.

“BSSP is trying to play its own part in the area, by helping identified and talented athletes with an interest in taking up the sport. Help is provided through a bursary that is made up of BSSP funding. Contributing to the cost of the sessions that are provided at Burnley Gymnastics Club (BEST Centre) is the main way to help children become involved in the club.”

As well as being split by ability, the competitors were divided by age groups with years one and two in one contest and years five and six in the other.

Each competitor attempted two routines, a vault and floor, with the two scores combined for an overall mark. The top four scores for gymnasts from the same school also provided a team result.

Martin added that BSSP will now host a series of competitions this month including girls football, tag rugby and orienteering, all with the aim of increasing participation in the sport.

He said: “BSSP is part of the Sainsbury’s School Games programme, which is a unique opportunity to motivate and inspire millions of young people across the country to take part in more competitive school sport.

“The Sainsbury’s School Games are made up of four levels of activity: competition in schools, between schools, and at a county/area level.

The Games have a strong inclusive element to them, giving more opportunity to young disabled people. Each area has a designated School Games organiser, and Burnley’s has recently been shown to be in the top 10 per cent of the entire country.”

Gymastic results: Year 1/2, non-gymnasts girls: 1 Lakiesha Dixon (Springfield CP), 2 Sophie Holmes-McGregor (St Joseph’s Parkhill), 3 3. Millie Pickles (St Leonard’s Primary).

Year 1/2 non-gymnasts boys: 1 Benjamin Woodfine (Wellfield) 2=Samuel Berry (St Leonard’s Primary), 2= Ayrton Riley (Rosewood), 3=Dalton Loversidge (Casterton) 3= Stanley Stephenson (Rose Grove).

Year1/2 gymnasts girls: 1 Ava Schofield (St Leonards), 2 Alisia Hargreaves (St Mary Magdalene’s), 4 Taylor De-Vries (Wellfield).

Year 1/2 gymnasts boys: 1 Lucas Serrafo von Heuser Mason (St Joseph’s Parkhill), 2 Joshua Taylor (Hapton), 3 Frazer Anforth (St Mary Magdalene’s) Team results: 1 St Leonard’s, 2 Rosewood, 3 St. Joseph’s Parkhill Year 5/6 non-gymnasts girls: 1 Harley Gill (Ighenhill), 2 Ellie Mount (St Mary Magdalene’s), 3 Meliss Ashworth (Ightenhill).

Year 5/6 non-gymnasts boys: 1 Jacob Hannah (St Joseph’s Parkhill), 2 William Couch (St Joseph’s Parkhill), 3 Ben Croston (St Joseph’s Parkhill).

Year 5/6 gymnasts girls: 1 Abbie Allison (St Stephen’s), 2 Jodie Leigh Hammett (Brunshaw), 3= Imogen Ferguson (St Mary Magdalene’s) 3= Elicia Swaine (St. Stephen’s) Year 5/6 gymnasts boys: Charlie Murgatroyd (Cherryfold)