CHESHIRE Academy director Iain Chalmers has hailed his gymnasts for their latest medal-winning perfor mance.

Youngsters from the Cheshire Academy of Integrated Sport and Art's sports acrobatics club returned in triumph from the North West Region Low Tariff Sports Acrobatics championships, in Wigan.

The team, comprised both mainstream and disabled gymnasts, won medals at three of the four categories they entered.

Iain, who coaches the team, said: 'For four of the eight gymnasts this was their very first competition and they all excelled themselves.

'They gave 100% effort and I am very proud of them. Sports Acrobatics is great for enabling integration and the Cheshire Academy is once more leading the way in ensuring such barriers are broken down.'

Chloe Watson and Kate Arnott put in an excellent routine in their first ever competition, but were never in medal contention.

Cameron Chalmers and Elizabeth Yearsley, also debutantes, performed a quirky routine with perfect timing and received well-earned silver medals.

In the wheelchair disabilities section, Martin Tattersall and Michael Taylor had the audience on their feet and won gold to thunderous applause.

In the mainstream/disabilities level B competition, Bethany Collina and Isabel Montgomery used every inch of the floor in their dynamic and fast flowing routine, bagging gold.

Elsewhere, the Academy collected 22 gold, 19 silver and eight bronze medals at the SNUGS (Special Needs Unit Gymnasts) invitational competition in Milton Keynes.

In the Rhythmic Level One category, Kirsty Whalley bagged four gold medals in the junior section and Claire Poole did the same in the seniors. Team captain Celia Flegg earned three silvers and a bronze.

Amy Halfpenny won two bronze medals and Elizabeth Cooper collected a silver and three bronze gongs. Kirsty Robertson won a silver and bronze.

In the more advanced Level Two competition Louise Green grabbed a four-gold haul, while Beth-any Collina and Felicity Martin each got three silvers and a bronze.

In the artistic event's Level A competition, Amy Minor got two golds and a silver, and Lauren Whalley won a silver.

Connor Moulton sealed three golds and a silver, and Leon Meir picked up a gold and two silvers. Josh Hitchen battled his way to a gold and silver.

In the Level One competition, Jonathon Potter swept the board with three gold medals, debutant Andrew Bardsley collected two golds and a silver, and Billy Tew earned two golds and a bronze.

Veteran Neil Jones won a gold for a fantastic vault, and Adam Audley exceeded expectations to collect a pair of silvers.

Bethany Collina was awarded two golds and a silver, Kirsty Robertson collected two silvers and a bronze, and Kirsty Whalley earned one silver and two bronze medals. Felicity Martin collected a silver for a confident beam routine and Amy Half-penny a bronze for a well timed floor routine.

In the advanced Level Two competition Alex Hitching won two golds and a silver, and was followed by Omar Haddad who bagged two silvers and a gold.

At Level Two Claire Poole won a vault gold and silvers at floor and beam, with Louise Green taking gold and two bronzes.

Everyone is welcome to a fun day at the Cheshire Academy's Macon Way base on Sunday July 15. Children with and without disabilities are welcome to contact the Cheshire Academy on 01270 255355.