Cross country champions

EIGHT young talented Mareeba Gymnasts recently competed at the Senior State Championships in Brisbane – one of the biggest competitions of the year.

Angelina Tulloch (14 years Level 7 Under 15), Addyson Hampton (12 years Level 7 Under 13 years) Natalia Esposito (14 years Level 7 under 15) and Brydie Genge (aged 17 years Level 9 Open) competed for the ladies this year, with Angelina coming sixth on bars and Natalia coming fifth on vault.

For the boys it was Andrew Hawthorn (18 years Level 7 Open), Myles Dobbs Brown (15 years Level 7 Open), Oliver Hampton (15 years Level 7 Open) and Frank Tulloch (aged 17 years Level 8 Open) who competed in the arena with Oliver coming 5th on floor and second in vault whilst Mareeba’s champion Frank Tulloch came first on floor and vault and third on rings.

Oliver and Frank have since been selected to go onto the next level of competition where Oliver will represent Queensland on the MAG Level 7 Border Challenge Team and Frank joining the Level 8 State Team.

Coaching director Kelly Tulloch was proud to see her crew come so far in the competition and said it is a testimony to their dedication in the lead up.

“These gymnasts trained 10.5 hours per week which is half the hours that most of their competitors would have been training,” she said.

and so happy for them as they continue to rise to the challenges of competition. It is not easy to step into the gymnastics arena with a lot of people watching down on them as they only get once change to perform a routine which they have trained so hard for.” achieve my best competing in such a high level environment fuels my hunger and determination to set and achieve new goals.

Dedicated to his gymnastics, Frank has been working harder than ever before in the lead up to the state championships and is proud to be representing Queensland in May.

With new goals set in stone, he is prepared to head on to the national championship with the lessons he learned from states behind him.

“Finishing first automatically qualified me for the state team which will allow me to work alongside the best gymnast in the state to proudly represent Queensland at the Australian Gymnastics Championships.

“In preparation for the Australian Gymnastics Championships my focus will be in the gym training harder than ever to make Mareeba and Queensland proud.”

TO kick off the school holidays, students from St Stephen’s Catholic College and Malanda State High School took the track for the annual inter-school cross country.

Although tough, participants put in their all to make it over the finish line, with the winners now preparing for the district cross country event in Yungaburra in May.

ST STEPHEN’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AGE CHAMPIONS

12 years: Harley Sweeper, Holly Radcliffe

13 years: Len Davies, Lara Chambers

14 years: Harrison Roos, Sophie Loudon

15 years: Elli Smith, Madeline Radcliffe

16 years: Dominic Serafini. Chloe Donovan

Opens: Cayden Gauci, Natalie Millerd

MALANDA STATE HIGH SCHOOL

AGE CHAMPIONS

12 years: Sarah Polijee, Harrison Roos

13 years: Jacinta Teehan, Caden Allen

14 years: Bronte Grose, Jonty Cortts

15 years: Rachel Kidcaff, Beau Evans

16 years: Erika Koelman, Flynn Hyde

17 years: Paige Grose, Alistair Hickey

Opens: Teesha Potts, Harvey Horan

“I have seen these kids grow up in the gym, as I have coached them all from a young age. I guide them as they put in the hard work to make themselves better athletes.

“I am so proud of them all,

“State championships was a great experience as I was exposed to many talented gymnast across the state which allowed me to make new lifelong friends within the sport,” he said.

“With my competitive nature, to always strive and

Frank will compete at Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast from 7-13 May this year whilst his team mate Oliver will be representing Queensland as an individual and a team member at the Queensland Border Challenge Competition in Brisbane from 24-29 June.