Featherstone Sports Centre Gymnastic
Club was born in 1977 when Wakefield
MDC opened Featherstone Sports Centre
as a dual use facility to be shared
with Featherstone High School.
Classes run by the council offered
the BAGA award scheme, although there
was a
display group for those gymnasts who
had passed badge 1 and could back flip.
Displays were performed at many of the
local summer galas. An internal summer
competition and a Christmas display
followed by a Christmas party for the
gymnasts were other features.
In September 1986 Featherstone
Gymnastics Club was registered with
BAGA by 3 voluntary coaches assisted by
a committee of parents offering the
National Development Plan (Grades) and
Women’s Artistic Gymnastics at county
level to around 20 gymnasts training at
the Sports Centre.
In 1988 the club moved to
Featherstone High School to secure
regular training
sessions. At its peak, 4 squads and
BAGA Award Scheme classes accounted for
some 70 gymnasts.
In 1998, the club moved for
financial reasons to a larger venue at
its current home, Airedale Community
Sports Centre, where there are now
around 80 gymnasts, a Badge class,
Advanced Badge class, recreational
squad and 2 competitive squads. The
club is still
entirely run by volunteers, both
coaches and the committee.
The last weekend before Christmas
sees the club Christmas party, a social
event where parents and gymnasts alike
can meet and relax and the Christmas
display, where the gymnasts demonstrate
their improving talents and entertain
family and friends, perhaps trying out
new moves for the first time in front
of an audience.
The Featherstone Invitational
competition is held each spring to
encourage recreational and
inexperienced gymnasts to participate
and enjoy friendly competition.
