The 4th annual Gymlinx Competition was held on Sunday 1st April in the Dialstone Recreational Centre in Stockport. This gymnastics event we believe to be unique in that it involves mixed teams from 5 of the FIG disciplines in a team competition. This year the clubs represented were Stockport School of Gymnastics (Artistic), Stockport Special Gymnastics Club, Stockport Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, Stockport Trampoline Club and the Oldham Centre of Gymnastics (Sports Acrobatics). The competition started modestly in 1997 with a joint competition involving Artistic and Rhythmic gymnasts and a new discipline has been added each year so next year we will be looking to add Mens Artistic.

The format is very simple with each team consisting of 2 ‘routines’ from each club. The word routines is used as clearly artistic will be a solo performance but rhythmic can have duets, trios etc. As there are only 2 from each discipline artistic can chose what pieces they perform on, this year it was bars and beam to give contrast to the floor based disciplines. Each routine is marked out of 10, easy for artistic but more challenging for trampolining, and the winning team is the one with the highest combined score.

The Dialstone centre is a reasonably large centre which is needed to fit all of the equipment, namely a trampoline (with sufficient roof space), a 12m floor (would have been better sprung), a beam, A bars and a tumble run. Of course in addition to the seats for the spectators there were the usual sideshows of refreshments, leotard sale and a tombola. In previous years we have held the event around Christmas and have finished off with an evening disco for all gymnasts, but not this year.

Should your area hold a gymlinx? Most definitely yes. It is great fun, it is a chance to see what other parts of FIG are doing, and it raises funds and the profile of gymnastics in your area. It can be spectacular and if our experience is anything to go by grows year by year. In addition to the competition each discipline can do displays and we have had sideshows of press cuttings, cups and medals from the year.