SUNDAY, December 6 saw the annual gathering for the Port Lincoln Gymnastics Club end of year Christmas display.
Special guests Ben Congedi and Clay Stephens accompanied by South Australian State coach Paul Szyjko were flown to Port Lincoln for the day by the club to entertain and inspire members and the audience.
Ben and Clay represent the South Australia in men's artistic gymnastics at a state and national level and have many titles to their names already at the ages of 12 and 14 respectively.
Coach Szyjko gave a running commentary as the boys warmed up, leading to iron man routines on floor, parallel bars, mushroom, pommel horse, the high flying horizontal bar and, with muscles of steel, the rings.
Ben and Clay were an inspiration to gymnasts in Port Lincoln, both boys and girls, coaches and the community.
Many thanks go to the boys and their coach for giving up their time to showcase men's artistic gymnastics at such a high standard and to be part of the end of year celebrations.
The kindergym crew opened the show traversing an obstacle circuit to the action song Rock a Bye Your Bear, a familiar tune to the littlies who toddled their way under, over, through and across the equipment, stealing hearts along the way.
Next the performing kindergymnastic animals, painted and dressed to impress, bouncing and balancing to Juicy, Juicy Green Grass.
Women's artistic gymnastics (WAG) level 1's version of the Four Seasons portrayed a gorgeous selection of spring flowers, a good old Aussie barbecue attracting 1957 rogue star "Louie the Fly" and his mates, who weren't expecting their arch enemy, a good old can of Mortein.
Following Louie's legs up fate an array of floating Autumn leaves wafted and swirled amongst some lively young foxes who led the way to an icy igloo, home to some very gymnastical, fantastical Eskimo girls who cartwheeled amongst some very cute snow bunnies and a snow leopard.
General gymnastics boys and girls portrayed Island Castaways with jiggling jelly fish, sand castles, podium hula girls and lots of rockin' and rollin'.
Level 2 girls theme Blue Skies and Sunny Days drifted into view, sunbrellas in hand, masquerading in handmade sequined and feathered masks, gossamer skirts with lighter than fairy feet. They held the audience in awe, floating through myriad challenging skills achieved during the year.
Men's artistic gymnastics (MAG) level 1 boys blended the seasons with a very energetic performance springing from the mini tramp to Supasoft mats boasting their strength and discipline in their aerial skills. The finale was a pyramid of muscle, without failing to mention Chai the bullet.
Following the MAG level 1 display, coach Hayley Anderson was thanked for her commitment to club as life member, past president and coach for the past seven years. She is now opting to retire and watch from the sidelines with her children still involved in the club.
She has been a wonderful asset to the club, filling so many roles
Level 3 girls mellowed onto the floor, all dressed in buttercup yellow, leis round ankles, glittering like gold to perform their original and class choreographed dance to Katrina and the Waves Walking on Sunshine and walk they didn't, they danced it!
Winding down, no, just winding up level 2, 3 and 4 boys Tribal Rain Dance was an awesome sight to see. Dressed to impress with fake hairy chests, cannibals discovered a leprechaun in their midst who was captured, hung on a roasting pole and targeted as the next feast. The video will reveal the outcome!
Level 4 girls presented a display of skills achieved over the year on uneven bars and trampoline. Their finale was singing and dancing a slip, slop, slapping message to the audience.
WAG level 5 girls made quite an entrance through an icy castle cave as aged ice queens magically transforming into younger versions of themselves to tumble and flip until the spell wore off returning to be old hags and disappearing into the cave once again.
That brought the show to a close with members sharing a free sausage sizzle and icy poles for the kids. Congratulations to all gymnasts and kids on a fantastic presentation of skills and dance achieved during the year.
Many thanks go to all volunteers, coaches, committee members and roadies involved in the lead up to and on the day. It is not possible to present a display of this nature without your help.
The Christmas hamper raffle was drawn during the show with first prize going to Bridie Mickan, second prize to Kodi Mundy, third prize to Mackai Harriden, fourth prize to Alan Green, fifth prize to Mel Dunn.
Thanks go to all members and sponsors who donated items for the raffle. All proceeds will go toward purchase and installation of industrial, oscillating, wall-mounted fans for the gym facility.
2010 registration day will be January 21 between 11am and 1pm with classes resuming February 1.
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