Welsh Trampoline squad take on Texas

A very excited team of gymnasts and coaches set off from Bridgend to Heathrow Airport this January, ready for a truly American experience in Texas: the Dallas Trampoline & Tumbling Cup.

Despite two flat tyres on the way to a US trampoline club, the squad got to join in with a training session and had a taste of what gymnastics training looks like across the pond.

The team got a real taste for Dallas with a visit to the famous Southfork Ranch as well as some more sightseeing, before the competition began.

Prelims day

After a warm up session, the seven Welsh gymnasts were split over two flights with gymnasts from the USA. Following outstanding routines, at the end of flight 1 Kayla Smith was in first, Alice McCabe 2^nd and Caitlin MacGregor 3^rd, a record-breaking start for the team.

The remaining four gymnasts performed excellent routines, and flight 2 ended with Leah O’Connor in first place, Lucy Barker placing second, Katie-Mai Davies in third, and Freya Davies in 4^th place.

With all seven Welsh Trampoline Gymnasts achieving places in the Finals, the competition was off to a great start.   

Finals day

The finals were a massive success with all seven gymnasts performing brilliantly and 21 routines completed.  

No-one could have asked for more consistency, and after an agonising wait the scores revealed that Wales dominated the leader board:

1^st Kayla Smith (Wales)

2^nd   Leah O’Connor (Wales)

3^rd Alice McCabe (Wales)

4^th Lucy Barker (Wales)

5^th Katie-Mai Davies (Wales)

6^th Katherine Omo-Osagie (USA)

7^th Freya Davies (Wales)

 8^th Caitlin MacGregor (Wales)

Post competition the team celebrated with a trip to a local amusement park and received a fantastic welcome from the Texan community on their return to the event venue.

A number of invitations to USA meets and training camps followed so this certainly doesn’t look like the last USA experience for Team Wales. The whole team received a fantastic welcome from event organisers, Texan club coaches, gymnasts and their parents and can’t wait to return.

Huge congratulations to everybody who took part in the event!