History

There was a gymnastics club in Hurstpierpoint as early as the 1920's, based in the old Parish Room, which ceased to operate in the thirties.

The current club was formed in January 1980 with just forty junior and infant aged girls. Since 1980 it has expanded in numbers, developed a wider range of equipment and now caters for three hundred gymnasts, both boys and girls, from 3 to 16 years olds, with both qualified coaches and teachers.

During the past forty years the club has:-

• trained over five thousand gymnasts
• awarded over thirteen thousand awards
• had members represent their schools and the county at National level in three disciplines:-

In 1983 the club adopted the royal blue and white of its then host school as club colours and mounted its first annual competition. In every year since, the first Saturday in July has seen gymnasts competing for honours in floor solos, vaulting and acrobatic pairs. The competition is open to those who are school year three and above. A range of trophies have been presented by various groups and individuals, including the Sussex Clubs for Young People.

In April 2000 it started its Annual Arts Festival competitions - featuring beam pairs, rhythmic solos & pairs and acrobatic groups. Over a hundred gymnasts now compete for the silver-ware on offer.

Amongst our ex-gymnasts the club knows of at least twenty teachers, five fitness trainers, two physiotherapists and numerous others whose careers have been positively affected by their membership of the club.

With over thirty members of secondary school age, the club has participated in local youth group activities and holds the Neighbourhood Ten Pin Bowling Competition Trophy.

The club has matured in the best sense of the word, with past gymnasts now bringing their own children and now grandchildren to enjoy the activities available.

In 2001 it became one of the first in the country to adopt, use and present awards on British Gymnastics new 'Proficiency' scheme. The club has adopted the Floor, Vaulting and Pairs disciplines - assessing gymnasts to Bronze, Silver & Gold criteria.
The 1,000th Award 8 was presented in April 2022. The 1,000th Award 4 and 1,000th Award 6 gained at the Club were presented in 2004, the 1,000th Award 5 in 2006 and the 1,000th Award 3 in 2010. The 1,000th Award 7 came in 2019 and the 1,000th Award 2 in 2024 - milestones of achievement.
The 2001 the Club was amongst the first to adopt BG's core 'Rainbow' scheme, and in September 2007 it was the first in the country to present awards from the revised scheme starting at Award 8.
In March 2016 it presented its 10,000th British Gymnastics Award.