A SUCCESSFUL Bromsgrove gymnastics academy is on the hunt for a new home due to its popularity but planning permission has hindered its plans.
Starbound Gymnastics Academy, which opened in 2017 at the Basepoint Business Centre, has a waiting list to join, due to the rising popularity of the sport since the success of British gymnasts at various World, European and Commonwealth championships.
Head coaches, Gemma Buchanan and Marie Carrigan, said: “It’s a lovely problem to have, but also very frustrating.
“Due to the small size of our facility, we limit our classes to 10 gymnasts. With hundreds of children on the waiting list, a larger space would mean we could have many more children in a class and clear the backlog easily.
“We want to be able to give more children the opportunity to take part in gymnastics and we really want a space we can call our own.”
Back in November 2022, MP Sajid Javid, and Aston Fields Councillor Phil Thomas both pledged their support to help with finding the club a new home.
Council leader Karen May has also been a great help to the club from the early days.
Gemma and Marie said: “All we need to do now is find a landlord who will consider letting a unit to us.”
Competition success as medals flow
Gymnasts from Starbound took home 11 medals – six gold and five silver – across individual and team events at the Solihull and Bromsgrove Floor and Vault Championships on Sunday.
The coaches, who train with the gymnasts for up to six hours-a-week, said they were ‘extremely proud’ of their efforts.
The Starbound Academy gymnasts, aged between seven and 16, took part in individual and team events, ranging from beginner to advanced.
Bea Tingle won the individual seven and under beginners competition with teammates Hollie Mann and Sophia Odemwingie placing joint second and Zara Jordan coming in eighth respectively.
Hollie, Bea, Sophia and Zara also took home the gold medal in the team seven and under competition.
The nine and under beginners competition saw SGA competitors Imogen Lewis, Nia Monfardini, Elsie Henfield and Isobel Kelly take the top spot.
And Imogen won gold in the individual nine and under competition alongside Nia in second, Elsie fourth and Isobel 13th.
Rose McDonagh took silver in the 11 and under intermediates competition.
Imogen Stabler placed fifth in the 11 and under advanced competition, alongside her teammates Isla Roberts and Mia Bendall who won gold in the 13 and under intermediates Lily Jenkins finished fourth in the 15 and under advanced competition and Esmae Rowan grabbed silver in the 16 and above intermediate ladies.
Visit starboundgymnasticsacademy.co.uk for more on the academy.
Anyone who can help with a new suitable venue for Starbound can email [email protected] with their details.
