Updated 11th March 2008

GYMNASTICS AUSTRALIA FAREWELLS BEN KERSWILL AND WELCOMES MARIS HARYADI
Gymnastics Australia would like to take this opportunity to wish Ben Kerswill all the best following his resignation as National Database Manager. Ben has been employed full time in this position since 2005 and worked tirelessly to support both clubs, state associations and the national office in their use of iMIS.

A fitting replacement has been found for Ben and we welcome on board Maris Haryadi. Maris comes to the sport with an excellent skill set in database management and we look forward to him taking the national database in many new and exciting directions.

With the above changes in mind, Gymnastics Australia has taken an opportunity to restructure staff responsibilities. Membership Services has now been combined with Club Services and will be the direct responsibility of Geoff Rietschel. Maris will continue to manage the national database (iMIS) and service GOL inquiries.

We look forward to your support whilst we phase in these new responsibilities.

SPORT AEROBICS - SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE UPDATE
Anthony Ikin, GA Athlete Commission member, coach, dancer and choreographer continues to impress the judges with his dancing skills. Anthony was selected into the final top 20 dancers on the 11th February and has survived four rounds of elimination competition. On last night's show he had to dance separate from his partner to impress the judges to stay in the competition.

Once again the judges identified Anthony's talent and voted for him to stay in the competition. After next Sunday's show it will only be the viewers vote that decides who stays and who is eliminated. Make sure that you phone through your vote to keep Anthony in the competition.

MEN'S ARTISTIC - 2008 QATAR WORLD CUP RESULTS
Congratulations to Prashanth Sellathurai and Philippe Rizzo on their outstanding results at the Qatar World Cup in Doha on the 4-6 March 2008. Prashanth won his 1st World Cup Gold Medal on Pommel Horse and Philippe won the Bronze Medal on High Bar. Joshua Jefferis placed 27th on PH, 20th on RI and 15th on PB.

Results:-
Pranshanth Sellathurai (NSWIS) PH 1st/43
Joshua Jefferis (AIS) PH 27th/43, PB 15th/25, RI 20th/32
Philippe Rizzo (AIS HB 3rd/28, PB 16th/25

Thanks to the coaches Vladimir Vatkin, Xiong Song Liang and to Nedal Alyousef (VIC) who represented Australia on the judging panel.

You can click here to view the full results.

Click here to view Prashanth's Gold Medal Pommel Horse routine.

Click below to read media articles:-

Sydney student claims Gold - Daily Telegraph
Sellathurai strikes World Cup Gold in Doha - GA Media Release

MEN'S ARTISTIC - 2008 INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR TEAM CUP RESULTS
The following gymnasts competed at the 2008 International Junior Team Cup that was held in Berlin on the 1st March 2008 and achieved the following results:-

Team Competition: AUS 21st/28
Competition 1: Jack Rickards (NSWIS) 19th/26
Competition 2: Alex Hunt (NSWIS) 29th/34
Declan Stacey (NSWIS) 33rd/34
Competition 3: Domonic Bedggood (QAS) 5th/12

This is a very young and inexperienced team competing in a major international junior team competition against experienced and older gymnasts. Well done to the gymnasts and thanks to Robert Hong (Coach) and Trent Lawrie (Judge) for managing the team while on tour.

MEN'S ARTISTIC - 2007 MAG ANNUAL AWARDS CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Nominations are called for the 2007 Men's Artistic Gymnastics Awards. Awards categories include:-

Senior International Gymnast of the Year
Junior International Gymnast of the Year
Open Levels Gymnast for 2007
International Coach of the Year
Open Levels Coach of the Year
Coach Encouragement Award
Judging Official of the Year

Please download the Award Criteria and the Nomination Form from the MAG website.
Nominations are due back at Gymnastics Australia by the 28th March 2008.

WOMEN'S ARTISTIC - GYMNASTICS JOURNEY IS REWARD
Read Dasha Joura's latest journal article as part of PerthNow's Commentary Team in the lead up to the Beijing Olympic Games. You can keep an eye on Dasha's thoughts by clicking this link and searching on Dasha Joura.

WOMEN'S ARTISTIC - BEST WISHES
WAG teams for Pacific Alliance, Friendship Classic and Golden State depart for USA tomorrow. Gymnastics Australia wishes all the athletes, coaches and officials the best of luck.

WOMEN'S ARTISTIC - ADDITIONS TO SENIOR NATIONAL SQUAD
Congratulations to Amber Fulljames (QLD/QAS) and Melanie Jones (VIC/AIS) who have joined the Senior National Squad following the Pacific Alliance Trial held in Canberra on 19-20 February.

CHANGE OF DATE FOR THE 2008 NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Due to the unavailability of the AIS arena the 2008 National Clubs has been moved forward 1 week. The following are the new dates:-

WAG 22nd November - 29th November

MAG 29th November - 3rd December

The draft competition and training schedules are now available from the web page.

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS - NAAZMI A RISING STAR
Congratulations to Naazmi Johnston for her recent media exposure in the Bayside Bulletin. Click here to read a copy of the article.

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS - 2007 RG ANNUAL AWARDS - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Nominations are called for the 2007 Rhythmic Gymnastics Awards. Award categories include:-

Senior International Gymnast of the Year
Junior International Gymnast of the Year
International Coach of the Year
Level 7-10 Gymnast of the Year
Level 1-6 Gymnast of the Year
National Coach of the Year
NOP Official of the Year

Please download the Award Criteria and the Nomination Form from the RG website.
Nominations are due back at Gymnastics Australia by the 28th March 2008.

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS - FIG RG NEWSLETTER NO. 31
The FIG RG Technical Committee has released Newsletter No. 31 dated the 18th February 2008. This newsletter contains clarification concerning the collaboration with "high risk" and a new difficulty element.

The newsletter can be downloaded from the GA RG website listed under Technical Information - Newsletters.

GENERAL GYMNASTICS - NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2007 GG NATIONAL AWARDS
Nominations are called for the 2007 General Gymnastics Awards, including Kindergym and Cheerleading. Award categories include Coach of the Year in each program as well as Volunteer of the Year and the prestigious Lance Otto Award. Please download the award criteria and nomination form

Nominations are due back to GA by the 17th March.

GENERAL GYMNASTICS - GYMNASTICS WEEK 2008
Keep these dates in your diary - 8th to 24th August coinciding with the Olympic Games.

Isn't that a fortnight rather than a week, you say? Well yes, but all the better to celebrate Gymnastics while it basks in the glory of the Olympic spotlight.

Keep an eye on future issues of the Latest News for more information about what activities are planned for Gymnastics Week 2008.

SPORT AEROBICS - SPIRIT GYMSPORTS SUCCESSFUL EUROPEAN TOUR
Athletes from the Spirit Gymsports Club in Perth and coach Trudi Nurse travelled with support staff to the 2008 French Aquae International Club Competition in Alx Les Baines in France (22-24 February) and then on to the 3rd Czech Open in Zlin, Czech Republic (28 February - 2 March 2008).

All athletes performed well impressing the European judges with their high standard of performance.

Results:
French Aquae International
Cairo Leicester Age Group 1 1st
Chelsea Carroll Age Group 1 4th
Stephanie Collins Age Group 1 7th
Samantha Elkington Age Group2 3rd
Zoe Tisdale Age Group 2 6th
Rebecca Burnett Age Group 2 7th
Kieran Gorman Senior 3rd
Sam Elkington and Pair 1st
Zoe Tisdale
Sam Elkington and Club Team 1st
Zoe Tisdale

Czech Open
Kieran Gorman Senior IM 1st/3
Chelsea Carroll Age Group 1 IF 1st/50
Cairo Leicester Age Group 1 IF 6th /50
Stephanie Collins Age Group 1 IF 7th/50
Samantha Elkington Age Group 2 IF 3rd/31
Zoe Tisdale Age Group 2 IF 4th/31

TRAMPOLINE SPORTS - RESULTS FROM THE POLAND WORLD CUP
In the first major competition of the year, Ben Wilden and Scott Brown competed in the World Cup of Poland 7th-8th of March. Scott Brown achieved a 9th place, being beaten to a place in the finals by the narrowest of margins (0.03), while Ben Wilden placed 21st after failing to finish his 2nd voluntary routine. Ben and Scott followed up their outstanding Synchro performances of 2007 with a Silver Medal, with the Gold Medal pair from Portugal only 0.2 ahead.

With China, Japan and Germany not in attendance, Russia dominated the individual results with Irina Karavaeva and Dmitry Ushakov taking the Trampoline Gold Medals and Anna Korobeynikova and Andrey Krylov the Tumbling Gold.

For complete results, see the official website

TRAMPOLINE SPORTS - MARCH 2008 TECHNICAL BULLETIN
Please be advised that the 2008 Trampoline Sports Technical Bulletin - March, is now available for download from the Gymnastics Australia website.

TRAMPOLINE SPORTS - 2008 INDO-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2008 Indo-Pacific Championships will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand. Our Trans-Tasman neighbours will be hosting countries from around the Pacific and are promising an exiting event. Expressions of interest are called for athletes and officials for this tour.

GYMJETS GYMNASTS JOIN THE EXCITEMENT
GymJets gymnasts will be part of a tumbling and tramp routine, this has added a new energy to their training regime. The gymnasts have also been involved in producing 'banners' to advertise the show. The banners will be placed in prominent positions around the venue.

This is the first show of it's kind for Gymnastics SA and the anticipation is building. Ticket sales have been brisk with FringeTIX selling their allocation of tickets to all three shows. A decision will be made this week as to a fourth show. Contact Gymnastics SA for your tickets now! It is unlikely that tickets will be available at the door - so BUY NOW!!! .. to avoid disappointment.

Call: 08 8294 8288 - credit cards accepted

TRAINEE CHOREOGRAPHER WITH SCOTTISH GYMNASTICS
Scottish Gymnastics in partnership with Sport Tayside and Fife are seeking to recruit a dedicated
trainee choreographer with a passion for developing potential young performers. The successful
candidate will assist in the delivery and implementation of a choreography programme designed
to support National Youth squad and Regional Academy squad members. In addition the post
holder will liaise with and support club coaches in the Tayside and Fife region ensuring the
dissemination of knowledge and expertise.

This is a rewarding and challenging opportunity for a dynamic team player who can demonstrate
an ability to implement positive change. This position also offers the opportunity for professional
development through the guidance, support and leadership of our technical team of experts.
Applicants should ideally hold a relevant coaching qualification and/or have experience of working
with young women’s artistic &/or rhythmic gymnasts at a competitive level, ensuring excellent
presentation and delivery within regional and national competition structures. Excellent
communication skills, enthusiasm and the ability to work independently and part of a team are
essential.

Scottish Gymnastics is an equal opportunities employer and aims to provide a working
environment free from any form of harassment, intimidation, victimisation or unjustifiable
discrimination. We aim to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable
treatment on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, colour, ethnic origin, sexual orientation,
age, or disability. All appointments are made purely on the basis of merit and ability.

To apply, send a CV and covering letter marked ‘Private and Confidential’ to:
Jackie Lawrie, Administrator Manager, Scottish Gymnastics Association, 2 Lint Riggs, Falkirk,
FK1 1DG. Telephone: 01324 886504. Email jackie@scottishgym.co.uk

Closing date: Friday 21 March
Interview date: Friday 28 March

Salary - £15 k pa
2 Year Contract

Click here to download the Job Specification.

This email communication has been forwarded to you in accordance with our Privacy Policy. If you wish to unsubscribe from the Gymnastics Australia Latest News mailing list, please send us a return email (from the address which you wish to have removed or listing the email address which you wish to have removed) from our mailing list.

ARCHIVED NEWS
2008
Week ending 9th March 2008
Week ending 2nd March 2008
Week ending 24th February 2008
Week ending 17th February 2008
Week ending 4th February 2008
Week ending 27th January 2008

Gymnastics Australia acknowledges the ongoing financial support of the Australian Sports Commission
in the delivery of a "whole of sport" approach to gymnastic related services and benefits.