Trampolining: Local trampolinist earns place in England final

Local trampolinist Melissa Butterworth bounced her way a place into the English Championship finals after a superb performance at Telford.

The Whitworth Community High School student has already notched up success in the Rossendale schools’ competition when she won the individual award and helped her team to success.

Now, along with teammates from Bury Trampoline Club, Melissa, 13, took part in an English Championship competition at Telford International Centre just for club members.

 

 

She said: “I was competing in the girls’ 13-14 and there were 46 other girls in my group.

“The top 16 qualified for the finals and I came eighth.”

She completed a set routine and then performed a completely different voluntary routine.

At the end of the voluntary she was supposed to finish on a double back but didn’t complete it, however because she had completed 10 skills, she still got good marks, but had a slightly reduced tariff setting.

She said: “When I walked in it was really busy and there were people there of all ages from nine up. There were also disabled groups taking part. There was trampolining, double mini trampolining, and tumbling.

“I used to do karate for eight years but when I got to my black belt, I wanted to do a different sport and so I started at a trampoline club.

“I have been with Bury for three years now and we go to competitions as a large group with parents and we all support each other. When I am doing a routine, I can hear people cheering me on.

“I try to think that I am just practising my routine in the gym, so my nerves don’t take over when I am doing a competition. I don’t think, ‘I want to win’ I just want to do my best and try my hardest.”

Melissa said she found trampolining was a good way of relieving stress.

A date for the English final is yet to be set.