Facilities

 

WORK ON NEW £2M REGIONAL GYMNASTICS CENTRE GETS UNDERWAY

The end of 2004 saw the start of work on our new state-of-the-art regional gymnastic centre.

On Monday 24th January, Project investors - Sedgefield Borough Council, Sport England, Competition Line and the building contractors MMP – gathered with us for the sod-cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of the work. After more than three years of hard work in the funding application stages of this project, it was great to see the workmen on site and the development finally getting off the ground.

The club has grown at such a rapid rate over the last five years that we desperately need this new facility to make sure everyone in the club has the best possible opportunities to help realise their potential.

Sedgefield Borough’s Mayor, Cllr Marie Predki, outlined the importance of the new centre, when she said: "The completion of the regional gymnastics centre will provide a multitude of opportunities for the development of gymnasts not only within the club but within the area. The project will provide the best facilities possible for the continued development of gymnasts, enabling them to realise their potential and help South Durham Gymnastics Club to continue to produce some of Great Britain’s brightest young prospects on the gymnastics circuit."

Hayley Robson (14) and Amy Fossheim (15) of South Durham Gymnastics Club have both represented Great Britain at international level and will attend trials for the European Youth Championships at the beginning of April. Hayley outlined what the new facility means to the gymnasts, when she said: "It’s going to be great. We will have much better equipment with improved facilities."

Building work will take place over the next 11 months with completion of the building expected by 4 th November, ready for the equipment to be installed. We would like to thank Sedgefield Borough Council and Phil Ball (Director of Leisure Services) for their continued support and encouragement during application process. Without them this project and our dream could never have been realised.

BUILDING WORK GETS UNDERWAY: The Mayor of Sedgefield Borough Council, Cllr Marie Predki looks down on (left-right) Owen Graham (Construction Director at MMP group), Nicola Preston, Hayley Robson, Amy Fossheim and Rachael Wright of South Durham Gymnastics Club, Gordon Hall (Managing Director of Competition Line)

The current stage of the development – 1 st March – the excavation for the foundations is almost complete – with concreting to foundations and the erection of the steelwork to commence in the next few weeks –

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