Sponsorship match funding from Wales's premier theme park and the Sports Council of Wales will enable hundreds of Pembrokeshire schoolchildren to compete in the third Oakwood Schools Junior Gymnastic Competition next week.
The competition, which now attracts more than 500 young gymnasts from across Pembrokeshire, is aimed at encouraging and improving primary and secondary school gymnastics in the county.
Said Welsh Amateur Gymnastics Association development officer Rachel Hughes, who is organising the event: "Thanks to this extra funding, the competition has been able to go ahead for a third year and is again spread over two days. Gymnastics is an important sport that not only provides confidence and discipline for younger children but also motivates and encourages them to work as part of a team. I would like to thank Oakwood Park and the Sports Council for helping to make this possible."
The Oakwood Schools Junior Gymnastics Competition is open to all schoolchildren between the ages of eight and 18 years attending school in Pembrokeshire. The competition has grown in popularity over the three years that it has been running and last year, over 500 pupils competed in the two-day event. This year, the competition will be held at Tenby Leisure Centre on January 24 and 25.
Competitors will be required to perform a tumble run, a conditioning run and two vaults, and will be marked by four qualified judges from Swansea. Medals will be awarded to the top 10 gymnasts in both the boys and girls events and there will be a team award for each year group plus shields for the best small primary school, large primary school and secondary school.
Said Rachel Hughes: "I hope that as many children as possible will take advantage of this opportunity to take part in the county's only competitive gymnastic event in order to make it a real success. If it continues to be a success, then next year we hope to make the event available to special needs gymnasts as there is currently no provision for competition at this level in Pembrokeshire."