FROMESIDE gymnast Oriel Powell has emulated London 2012 Olympian Jennifer Pinches by being crowned South West champion.

After finishing top of the podium at the South West Age Group Championships, the nine-year-old not only became South West Age Group level 4 champion but the South West Combined level 4 champion.

Powell is the first member of the Winterbourne-based club to win the title since 2003 when Pinches triumphed.

After a great start on bars, being placed first on that apparatus, Powell had an unusually nervous outing on beam, although she was still second.

She then put in a stunning performance, achieving first place on floor and finishing her competition with a great vault for first place. Powell’s total score was an impressive 49.660, a lead of 1.72 over the second placed gymnast. This secures her a place at the National Finals in November as the number one seed for the South West team.

This result, combined with her Compulsory Level 4 result carried over from February, totalled 109.601, a clear 3.07 marks ahead of her nearest rival.

Also in the level 4 section, nine-year-old Ashonte Bird was fourth on bars, second on floor and sixth overall.

This result secured her the non-travelling reserve position for the South West team at national finals.

Training buddy Gabrielle Wild finished eighth in the same group.

In the level two category, ten-year-old Jaime Wall finished first on beam, second on vault, second on floor, third on bars and second overall, and has opened the door for her selection to represent the South West in the British Schools Championships in 2013.

In the Daphne Leeworthy cup – FIG level – 12-year-old Georgina Bisp finished third on vault and eighth overall, which was an outstanding effort in her first year competing at this level.

Training buddy Lydia Hayden, 14, finished fourth on floor and 17th overall after an uncharacteristic disaster of events on bars.

Fromeside welcomes anyone to come and try the sport with Classes available for pre-school youngsters, recreational gymnastics for all ages, adult classes, disability gymnastics classes, over-50s, keep fit, competitive boys and girls artistic gymnastics, gym fusion and more. For information call 01454 776873.