TWO girls from near Broadway have returned in triumph from an international gymnastics competition in America.
Laoishe and Saoirse MacCana, members of Fromeside Gymnastics Club, were among five girls selected by their coaches to take part in the Magical Classical Invitational on February 5 and 6.
The sisters, who live in Childswickham, took part in four disciplines during the two-day competition at Brown’s Gym in Florida, competing against girls from all over the world.
Laoishe, aged 12, was placed second for her floor routine, second for the bars, sixth for the beam and sixth for the vault, coming third overall for her age group and ability. Younger sister Saoirse, nine, came 11th all round.
Mum Lesley said she and husband Ciaran, the girls’ father, were extremely proud of their achievements.
“We just want them to have the opportunity to be the best they can be,” she said.
“They’re totally driven. There’s no pushing from us. If they can’t make it to training they do conditioning at home and if we go away they’ll go jogging. Oisin, Saoirse’s twin brother, is very involved in trying to keep fit with them.”
The girls first joined a club at the Cheltenham Gymnastics Centre after Winchcombe School student Laoishe gained inspiration from the 2004 Olympics.
As the pair improved, they started to take part in competitions and moved to their current club where they now train for 20 hours a week.
Both are no strangers to success, with Isbourne Valley School pupil Saoirse coming third in last year’s Gloucestershire County Competition and first in the Bristol United Gymnastics competition.
Meanwhile, Laoishe came first in the regional heats and second in the national finals of the 2009 British NDP Tumbling Championships, second at the Gloucestershire County Competition and first with distinction in Level 4 of the South West Grades.
The sisters have also been selected to take part in Gloucestershire’s county squad this year.
