MEMBERS of Richard s Trampoline Club turned in some great performances at the weekend as they prepared for the National Championships next month. Competing at an event in South Shields, Elliot Stratton was using the event as a last chance to qualify for

MEMBERS of Richard's Trampoline Club turned in some great performances at the weekend as they prepared for the National Championships next month.

Competing at an event in South Shields, Elliot Stratton was using the event as a last chance to qualify for the championships so this immediately brought pressure on him.

During the set routine warm up things looked good and when it came to the event he produced one of his best ever routines, certainly his best at a National Grade One competition.

Everything was well centred and tight and he was rewarded with 23.5 giving him fourth spot.

Elliot's voluntary routines have generally been stronger than his sets this year and once again he looked good during his warm up.

He coped with the four opening doubles very well and although the following single somersaults were less secure, he produced a sound first voluntary routine and he moved up to third place with 54.0.

This gave him the all important qualification score for the National Championships by a large margin.

His voluntary routine in the final round was very good, being especially better through the single somersaults. The judges rewarded him with extra marks so he consolidated his third place with his best ever total of 85.5.

Michael Dodson also had an especially good set routine. It was right in the middle and tight which gave him a score of 24.2 and put him in second place.

His first voluntary routine had very high difficulty but was rather scrappy but was good enough to push him into first spot with 55.1.

In the final round he quickly found himself close to the end of the trampoline and unable to perform his rehearsed moves.

Thinking quickly, he made up a whole new routine quite unlike his planned one and retrieved what would have been a disaster.

Unfortunately, the reduced difficulty value saw him drop to third overall.

Both boys will now be aiming to increase both the difficulty and the security in their routines, ready for the national championships next month.