Hills gymnasts to take on the world’s best

THE star-studded Castle Hill RSL team could provide Australia with the best chances of medals at the World Trampoline Gymnastics Championships.

Liam Christie, Imogen Florian, Georgia Rayment, Dominic Clarke, Kira Ward, Abbie Watts and coach Belinda Cox at the Castle Hill RSL Gymnastics Centre. Pictures: Justin Sanson

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THE star-studded Castle Hill RSL team could provide Australia with the best chances of medals at the World Trampoline Gymnastics Championships and World Age Group Championships in Bulgaria from November 9-19.

National champions for several years and guided by award-winning coaches Belinda Cox and Damian Ryan, the Castle Hill RSL trampolinists are raring to show their skills on the world stage.

Cox and Ryan will also be a part of the Australian coaching team at the two championships in Sofia.

Abbie Watts is in the Australian team for the world championships.

Imogen Florian is competing at the World Age Championships.

Australian and Castle Hill RSL gymnastic coach Belinda Cox. Pictures: Justin Sanson

Kellyville duo Dominic Clarke, 20, and Kira Ward will be competing in the individual trampoline, synchronised trampoline, double mini trampoline at the world championships from November 9-12 at Sofia, Australia.

They will be joined by 20-year-olds Abbie Watts of Dural (individual trampoline, synchronised trampoline) and Bella Vista’s Amy Lewis (double mini trampoline).

The club is represented by a highly talented trio in the world age championships from November 14-19: Imogen Florian, 17, of Dural, 17, (individual trampoline, synchronised trampoline),

Liam Christie, 15, of Kellyville, (individual trampoline, synchronised trampoline, double mini trampoline) and Georgia Rayment, 17, of Rouse Hill (individual trampoline, double mini trampoline).

Kira Ward is stepping up to the big stage.

Dominic Clarke is on top of his sport.

“The team is doing very well and it’s beautiful to see more than half the Australian team coming from Castle Hill RSL,” Cox told the Times.

“For Dominic Clarke and Kira Ward this will be their first time at the world championships though they have competed at the age championships before.

“This is a big stage for them because they will be competing against the best in the world and there will be around 110 athletes in each event.

Liam Christie has a chance of medalling at the championships.

Georgia Rayment is one of the several Castle Hill RSL gymnasts in the Australian team.

“This is the first world championships in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and it will the stepping stone to bigger things for all of them.

“It’s very much a case of getting used to competing with the big guns at this level.

“Liam and Imogen could medal with Imogen having won medals at past world age championships.

“The athletes are also working on their world rankings and training them keeps Ryan and me very busy.”