FOR the first time since the club was founded, Chippenham Moonraker Gymnastics had a representative competing as part of the National Performance Programme at the South West Age Group Championships.

Nine-year-old Sophie Townsend competed at Level 4, lining up against clubs from across the South West who have a history of producing international level gymnasts and full time access to specialist training facilities.

On a historic day for the club, Sophie performed extremely well across all apparatus to finish in 11th place overall, also placing sixth on the vault and eighth on the bars.

Coach Hanna West said: “I couldn’t be more proud of Sophie. She has worked really hard in the gym to get up to the level required to be able to take part.”

Chippenham Moonraker Gymnastics opened in 2011 and meets regularly at the Olympiad Leisure Centre in Chippenham and Springfield Community Campus in Corsham.

The Sport England ClubMark accredited club offers gymnastics for children from the age of four upwards and also runs a class specifically for adults.

For information, email swest@chippenhamgymnastics.co.uk; or visit www.chippenhamgymnastics.co.uk.