- Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre celebrates members’ achievements
Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre is celebrating the recent success of its gymnastics teams.
Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre is a purpose-built facility situated in Hilsea. It is operated and managed by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live in partnership with Portsmouth City Council
The centre’s team enables participants of all ages across the city to stay active through structured gymnastics classes, pay-as-you-go sessions, holiday clubs, and more.
Several young Performance Squad gymnasts recently represented the centre at the national Artistic Gymnastics British Championships in Liverpool across Women’s and Men’s competitions. The two-day event welcomed gymnasts across the nation to the M&S Bank Arena for competitions across Vault, Uneven Bars, Beam and Floor.
The event formed the first major introduction to competitive gymnastics for several of the centre's gymnasts, who regularly train under the guidance and support of Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre’s team. Representation included four members from the centre’s male under-16s team, five members from the centre's male under-14s team, and many more.
Centre gymnast Nick Rodrigues competed brilliantly in the event’s Senior Championships, which took centre stage as the main event across the weekend. Qualifying for the competition as one of Britain’s top 36 gymnasts, Nick finished in the fantastic 28th place.
Jake Palmer, a member of the under-16s team, also had a fantastic run. Winning his second consecutive all-around bronze medal at the championships, Jake had previously celebrated a third-place finish at the English National Championships earlier this year.
Speaking about the event, Adam Paterson, Head Coach at Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre, said;
“This year’s British championships once again showed the talents of our teams, and we are delighted to have representation in both the Women’s and Men’s competitions. Our competitors should be incredibly proud of all they have achieved.
“We’re delighted to continue supporting the sporting journeys of gymnasts across the city through the centre’s fantastic facilities, BH Live Active team, and class and activity programmes.”
Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport at Portsmouth City Council added:
"It is wonderful to see so many of the Centre's gymnasts competing at a national level.
"Encouraging healthy lifestyles in our communities and promoting positive physical health is a priority for us, so we are thrilled that we are able to offer these opportunities for the city's aspiring athletes. I look forward to seeing how their sporting careers flourish in future."
Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre is additionally celebrating the success of Dr Chris Mills, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth who regularly trains at the centre, who has been selected to represent Great Britain’s 50+ gymnastics team at the 2025 Masters World Cup in Germany this summer.
When discussing this recent achievement, Dr Chris Mills said;
“I always tell people, you’re never too old to start gymnastics. There’s so much variety - you can always learn something new, so there’s always a sense of progression. It definitely gets harder as you get older, especially the recovery, but I love it.
“Gymnastics is so much more than just fitness. It helps build muscular strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance and also boosts confidence and improves decision-making.”
Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre’s coaching team has seen more interest in adult gymnastics during its pay-as-you-go sessions, and has encouraged those who want to compete to join its Adult squad.
No entry-level requirements are needed, just the enthusiasm and desire to train regularly and compete. Some squad members started with little gymnastics experience and are showing that it’s never too late to get started.
More information about Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre can be found online at bhliveactive.org.uk/gymnastics-centre.
Image courtesy of University of Portsmouth