History

Gryphon West Gym Club practices Sports Acrobatics and Tumbling in both Sherborne and Yeovil. Sports Acrobatics is a form of gymnastics designed around balance and agility, and is performed on both floor and sprung track.

The Gryphon West Club arose from the ashes of Preston Gym Club of Yeovil in 1998. It was fortunate to inherit its assets, which included a full-carpeted area and a very ancient half-length tumbling track. It also inherited a moderate financial legacy, which enabled it to establish a legal status within the gymnastic arena. The club at this time had approximately 20 gymnasts. In October of that year, a committee was created to formalise the running of the club and assist with administration and decision-making. As the club is based jointly between the Gryphon Leisure Centre in Sherborne and Westfield School of Yeovil it was decided that the club should be known as “Gryphon West”.

With the basis of the club now formed and early teething problems ironed out, the club set itself the following 5 criteria, with the aim to improve standards in both achievement and facilities:

Maintain and increase its membership.
Increase the number of coaches.
Provide continued support and training for the coaches.
Provide an acceptable standard of equipment.
Improve the club status and identity.

By 2002, thanks to significant funds being secured, a new full-length fibre rod tumbling track was purchased, and Gryphon West gymnasts were now entering competitions all kitted out in their new club-coloured tracksuits.

In 2003, the Club hosted the SW Schools and Dorset & Wiltshire Competitions for the first time and had it's first gymnast at the NDP Finals. A year later, the Club gained it's first medal at the NDP Finals - a 2nd place for Becky Hibberd.

GymMark status was first attained in 2005 and club gymnasts Craig Goldring and Chantal Williams represented their schools at the BSGA Acro Gym National Finals.

2006 saw more & more gymnasts represented at National Finals. Two of them collecting medals; Nicholas Holder with a Gold at the School's Finals (with Christopher Rogers from Monarchs), and Alisha Summerbell with a Tumbling Bronze at the NDP Finals.

The club had an exceptional year at the NDP South-West Preliminaries in 2008 by winning 12 Gold Medals, 5 Silver and 3 Bronze. It added to this by winning 2 Gold Medals at the NDP Finals and taking part in the prestigious Gutenberg Cup in Germany in October. The year ended on a high with Gryphon West being named South Somerset's Junior Club of the Year and the Men's Four winning the 11-16 Age Group at the Acrobatic & Tumbling Gymnastic British Open Tournament. 2009 continued in similar vein and saw our Head Coach, Jane Bell, named as South Somerset's Coach of the Year.

In 2010, the Club continued to have representation at NDP National Finals and Schools Finals with James Bell and Craig Goldring winning Gold in the Grade 4 Pairs. Nicholas Holder and Nick Hole joined them in achieving Silver in the Grade 4 Groups and Harrison Minter, Owen Edwards, Ben Summers & Jack Britten attained a Bronze in the Grade 2 Groups.

There was further success in 2011 with James Bell & Craig Goldring winning Gold (again!) in the Grade 4 Pairs, Nicholas Holder & Sarah Barrington winning a Bronze in the Mixed Pairs at the same level and Harrison Minter, Owen Edwards, Ben Summers & Jack Britten winning a Bronze (again!) in the Grade 2 Groups. And last but not least, Daniel Cox won a Bronze medal on the tumble-track at National 1. Gryphon West's most successful NDP Finals ever!

Today, the club has a registered membership of approximately 80 gymnasts ranging in age from 6 to 20. Training sessions take place on a Monday, Thursday, Saturday and every second Sunday of the month. The club currently has six Coaches plus a number of Assistant Coaches and qualified judges all of whom are CRB approved.