Southampton Echo article – Thursday January 17th, 2007
Sammi the tops out of 700!
Sammi Scott was named Southampton Gymnastics Club 'Gymnast of the Year' at their annual Gala performance at Southampton Guildhall.
Sammi, a member of the Testwood Seniors Centre, was selected from a shortlist of 14 finalists chosen from over 700 members of the club. She was chosen for her keen and eager, pleasant, polite and hard working attitude, which she carries through to the coaching she does at the centre's Junior sessions.
She is working towards her Assistant Club Coach qualification.
Sammi received the prestigious Ken Bell Trophy from the guest of honour at the Gala, Sheriff Brian Parnell, in front of a sell-out crowd and honoured guests.
The Gala is held every year as a celebration of the year's achievement, and is the only opportunity in the year for all areas of Southampton Gymnastics Club, from Baby Gym to the Elite squad, to perform together at the same venue.
A special performance was also held this year to enable several local schools to also take part and demonstrate the high standard of team gymnastics being achieved in schools.
There were also guest appearances by an impressive martial arts Wushu group and the accomplished Team Phoenix Cheerleaders.
This year's theme was 'The 70's' and youngsters from each of the club's satellite centres and development squads produced fun routines to music such as 'Saturday Night Fever' and 'Amarillo'.
The girls swooned over City Acro Centre's very own James Bond during their 'Live and Let Die' routine, and Bitterne Girls managed to include a 30 foot long Chinese Dragon into their performance.
The Club's highly successful Special Needs group again showed why they are so special, and compere Merv Hedges put two of their group, Lesley Neale and Natalie Buchanan, into the spotlight by pointing out to the audience their impressive medal collections. A collection was made on the day towards helping the Special Needs group to pay for their trip this year to the Jersey Games, and £245 was raised.
The full Acrobatics squad of around 60 somehow squeezed onto the floor all at the same time, and entertained the audience with an innovative training montage mass routine set to the theme from Rocky.
The tumblers also had their moment in the spotlight, flipping their way down a tumble track which had been specially constructed in the Guildhall for the show.
Tumble Tots was introduced to this country by Southampton Gymnastics Club, and the thriving Tumble Tots, Gym Bobs and Baby Gym groups joined in too.