On Tuesday 7th March, local schools descended on Tolworth Recreation Centre, where the annual Kingston Borough Trampolining Competition was held. Students from Surbiton High School, Chessington Community College, Holy Cross School, Coombe Girls’ School and Tolworth Girls’ School attended, taking their opportunity to showcase the sporting talents of the pupils. Most competitors from Tolworth Girls’ had been training for the event since the beginning of February, with many attending out of school trampolining or gymnastic activities to enhance their chance of victory.

All the trampolinists had to perform a set routine and a voluntary routine as part of the competition, with the levels of difficulty varying depending on age and ability. The set routine was performed by every student across the schools, one routine was assigned to all in Years 7 & 8, and another more difficult routine for Year 9 and above. The voluntary routine, however, was decided by the student and they are given a tariff depending on the difficulty of their routine. Each competitor was judged on how well they perform the routine, but the tariff score can be a deciding factor, as the higher the tariff, the higher the score. Overall, scores were awarded out of 10 for each routine per student and were deducted marks for mistakes in the performance. Students competed individually and in teams of up to 4 within their year group and school. The team with the overall highest score in the year group, across all competing schools, placed first. The individual awards were given out for the best score within a year group.

By the end of the afternoon it was evident that Tolworth Girls’, Surbiton High and Holy Cross had dominated the competition, sweeping a multitude of awards in the two categories. Beth McDonagh (Year 7) and Kate Dyball (Year 10), claimed Surbiton victory in the individual competition, with the school also picking up the Year 7 team prize. Holy Cross won two individual awards; Rebecca Oram (Year 11+) and Suzie Hamzeh (Year 9), alongside the team awards in both Years 9 and 10. Tolworth Girls’ won a single individual prize with Millie Harvey (Year 8), and received two team awards in the Year 11+ category and Year 8. Unfortunately, both Chessington Community College and Coombe Girls’ lost out to the top three schools, but Coombe received runner-up prizes in some year groups.

I spoke with many of the Tolworth Girls’ School candidates who told me that they had either attended a trampolining club outside of school or taught themselves gymnastics and trampolining in the past. Some had attended the competition in previous years or participated in other local tournaments. The experience certainly paid off and the performances were a pleasure to watch, with a Year 7 Tolworth student saying her favourite part about the tournament was “watching the other really good competitors”. The chance to perform brought a smile to everyone’s faces and the annual competition was once again, a big success.

Kathryn Loosley, Tolworth Girls' School & Sixth Form