Meet The Team

Rhian Gibson

Welsh Gymnastics Ltd is the National Governing Body of the Sport in Wales and my role as Chief Executive is to ensure the effective and accountable governance of the organisation. The work is led by the Welsh Gymnastics Vision 2020 Strategy and the goals set out there. In the main it is to increase membership and participation and to win more medals. In order to deliver on these goals I need to ensure that Welsh Gymnastics is a high performing organisation that ensures excellent customer service with a secure financial and staffing structure.

This means working with all our partners – gymnastics clubs, volunteers, Sport Wales, Local Authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the success of our sport.

I joined Welsh Gymnastics in October 2011 following a career in journalism, broadcasting and communications. As Director of Commissioning with S4C and Deputy Head of News and Current Affairs with BBC Wales I gained great experience in leadership, management and business practices. I hope to bring this knowledge to our organisation to strengthen and grow our sport. I was a keen gymnast in my youth with Ynys Mon and Bangor Gymnastics Clubs.

2012 is a huge year for gymnastics; the sport will gain unprecedented exposure in the London 2012 Olympics. Welsh Gymnastics is ready for the challenge. My priorities for the year will be to improve communication, raise the profile of the sport, introduce new strategies for boys and men’s gymnastics, GMPD and pre-school gymnastics. We will also be issuing new coaching and judging initiatives as well as working closer with our communities to deliver our strategic goals.

Jo Coombs

As Head of Performance and Excellence, my role is responsible for providing the performance coaches and the discipline committees with the tools and support they need to enhance the disciplines potential and talent of gymnasts, both within the national programme and on the Commonwealth and World stage. The role maintains 8 disciplines and covers everything performance related including coaching, judging, competitions, and squads.

Before working for Welsh Gymnastics, as a trained PE teacher, I worked in a secondary school for 8 years on the South Coast of England before relocating to Cardiff and becoming a Dragon Sport Co-ordinator, then PESS Co-ordinator. I joined Welsh Gymnastics in 2004 as National Development Manager, then switched to Performance in 2010.

Gymnastics has always been a passion of mine and I have gone through the whole spectrum of possibilities from gymnast, to coach, to judge and committee Chair. My specialist discipline is Rhythmic Gymnastics and I have had the honour of competing, coaching and judging for Wales and GB.

Cerri Dando

I am the Workforce Development Co-ordinator for Welsh Gymnastics and some of my main responsibilities include supporting and facilitating the training and development of the country’s gymnastic workforce. I also help to assess the gymnastics workforce needs within the country, for example promoting opportunities, recruitment and deployment. I’ve also been involved in the development and implementation of a Gymnastic Coaching Strategy for Wales which will really make a difference in terms of developing the quality of our coaches and coaching provision. Recognising the importance of Safeguarding and equality, I have also supported Welsh Gymnastics in the delivery of its plan throughout Wales.

I’ve worked in Sports Development and Coaching for several years, based in different local authorities and governing bodies. Each opportunity has given me a greater understanding and perspective on being a sport’s coach in the working world and all the challenges that can face people wanting to become involved in sport, as a coach or volunteer; these barriers and obstacles are my main focus to overcome for everyone.

Coaching and sport have been part of my life for a long time, from being a child through to adulthood. I think gymnastics is a great sport that provides you with so many different components of fitness that it prepares you for any other sport that you may try.

My ambition in 2012 is to offer a variety of workforce opportunities, continuous professional development, courses and workshops which will provide personal development for our current and future workforce.

Tracey Skirton-Davies

I have held the position of Women’s National Coach for the past 7 years. Prior to this I ran the Wiltshire School of Gymnastics and have coached gymnastics to national and international levels.

I have coached top level gymnastics in Great Britain for 20 years and have had over 40 British titles and over 35 British squad members. I have coached at European, Commonwealth, World and Olympic competitions.

My aims for 2012 are to capitalise on the exposure generated for Welsh gymnastics by the London Olympics. I want our gymnasts to get as much out of the games as possible whether that comes from training with those involved in GB to actually making the British team. As for the Olympic legacy I hope that more children will particpate in gymnastics.

Finally I hope our younger gymnasts make the European championship squad and make the finals of the competition.

Carly Hawke

I am the Competition & Programme Support Officer at Welsh Gymnastics.

My role within the company allows me to liaise with the Technical Committees and help them to organise their competition calendar as well as completing the administration side for all National events and competitions. I also provide administrative support to the National Coaches and Squads including booking all their international travel arrangements.

I was first involved in gymnastics at the age of 4 when I joined a local club. I eventually moved to coaching and now run my own club. This sport can get you like that – it can become a fundamental part of your life - I’m just lucky enough to be involved in the operations side of it too.

Pete Haysham

I am currently the Men’s National Coach. I have recently coached the Welsh team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and Great Britain at the World Student Games in China. Particular highlights from the CWG were having three Welsh gymnasts qualify for apparatus finals and obtaining the highest place finish for a Welsh gymnastic men's team.

I am a former Commonwealth Games gymnast and began coaching at Barry YMCA part time after my gymnastics career had finished. This naturally led onto a head coach role with the male section. I have produced dozens of Welsh internationals and three G.B internationals over the years.

For 2012 I hope to assist the Junior Development coach in improving our junior squad level of gymnastics and continue to increase the difficulty of routines of our senior gymnasts working towards the CWG in Glasgow 2014.

Ioana Popova

I am the National Choreographer for Welsh Gymnastics since 2000. I am responsible for the development of elite gymnasts through the use of classical ballet, flexibility and different styles of dance to enable them to reach their maximum potential. I work as the Head Choreographer alongside and cohesively with the National Squad coaches in composing, creating and perfecting gymnastic routines for World Class Athletes.

I deliver choreography, flexibility and rhythmic gymnastics workshops to a variety of coaches and volunteers working within gymnastics clubs inWales. Through these I mentor coaches of all ages and introduce them to another side of gymnastics, dance and artistry and provide them with further inspiration.

My first insight into gymnastics was when I was aged 6 and after my first class I loved it, I attended rhythmic gymnastics classes in my home townSofia,Bulgaria. I gained the honour of Master of Sport by winning the Bulgarian National Senior Group Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics. I studied at the National Sport Academy in Sofia and gained my coaching and PE teachers degree, and since coming to Wales I have become a National RG Judge and I am Level 3 Technical Expert within Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Joy Sumner

I am the Development Officer for Welsh Gymnastics in the North and have been working for Welsh Gymnastics from 1999, full time since 2005.

I have been involved in gymnastics since 1973, firstly as a gymnast (that just lets you know how old I am!) Following on from that, I have coached hundreds of children with Deeside Gymnastics Club. I hold awards in most every discipline but specialise in tumbling gymnastics where I hold a Brevet International Judging Award.

I am also a tutor and assessor for WG and BG.

Annette Brown

My role at Welsh Gymnastics is Head of Administration. This encompasses finance, membership, the smooth running of office infrastructure, and all aspects of administration concerning governance to the Chair, Board, CEO and Area Committees.

I have been involved with gymnastics for almost 40 years, initially as a parent of 2 national squad gymnasts and later as a club secretary, Hon secretary to the Executive Committee, and various other voluntary roles on committees for the Welsh Gymnastics Governing Body. I was also a member of the Welsh Adult display team during the 80’s and travelled to many Gymnastrada representing GB and Wales.

I became permanently employed 13 years ago as General Secretary and over this time to the present day my role has evolved dramatically as the association has changed, grown and developed into the present day Welsh Gymnastics Ltd.

Victoria Jones

I am Club Development Officer for the West Area within Welsh Gymnastics.

My areas of work are leasing with Local Authorities, working with partner organisations, supporting clubs in the west area and working on special projects.

Before working for Welsh Gymnastics, I studied Sports Coaching and Performance at University of Glamorgan and then went on to work within Sports Development as a School Sports Coordinator and Special Project Officer.

I am extremely passionate about gymnastics. I’ve been involved in gymnastics for many years both participating and in coaching. My specialist discipline is GMPD. I currently coach the Welsh and British GMPD squads and thoroughly enjoy it.

Aled Jones

I am the club development officer for South East Wales within Welsh Gymnastics.

My role involves working with, and supporting clubs within the area by liaising with local authorities and partner organisations.

I’ve been involved in gymnastics for most of my life – as a competitive gymnast, men’s artistic gymnastics coach and now as a development officer.

Before working at Welsh Gymnastics, I studied for a degree in Sports Development at the University of Wales, Institute Cardiff, and I am currently studying for Masters Degree in Sport Development and Coaching.

Previously, I have worked within local authority sport development as an assistant coach and workforce development officer and as an assistant school based sport development officer.

Siwan Jones

I am the South Central Club Development Officer for Welsh Gymnastics. My role involves working with, and supporting clubs within the area by liaising with local authorities and partner organisations.

I competed in artistic, tumbling and acrobatic gymnastics. I am now a qualified Women’s Artistic Level 2 Coach.

Before working for Welsh Gymnastics, I attended University of Wales, Institute Cardiff and completed my undergraduate studies in Sport and Exercise Science. I am currently completing my Masters Degree in the same subject; studying Biomechanics in Gymnastics.