Edgbarrow TC ace Sophie is a golden girl for Wales
By Jane OvermanOctober 14, 2009
Following her win in Portugal at the 4th Loule Cup Trampoline International just three weeks ago, 15-year old Sophie Lewis of Edgbarrow Trampoline Club added the Friendship Cup title to her impressive list of achievements.
Sophie was selected to represent Wales at the 37th Friendship Cup in Kladno, just outside Prague, Czech Republic, last weekend.
Fourteen nations took part in the competition, with 40 junior females (under-18s) in Sophie’s category.
Sophie’s compulsory routine wasn’t of her usual high standard, so she knew she had to pull out all the stops with her second round voluntary routine if she was to make the final top eight.
Sophie wasn’t disappointed as her excellent execution of a five double-somersault routine secured her a finals-qualifying place in fourth.
The final saw the top eight girls’ scores from the qualifying rounds wiped to zero, making it all to play for in a nail-biting affair.
Sophie performed her voluntary routine brilliantly once again, scoring higher than in her first voluntary and achieving a personal best.
The mark left her solidly in the medal positions, but with three more competitors left to perform, family and friends watching at home via the internet could only wait and see what would happen.
However, Sophie’s routine was enough to win her the gold in convincing style, a whole mark ahead of a Swiss national team member in second place, securing a terrific victory for Wales and Edgbarrow.
Sophie then went on to compete in the synchronised competition with her partner Emily.
The pair produced three solid routines to finish in second place, just 0.2 behind the winners.
Sophie is now at a training camp at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Shropshire, preparing with team-mates Liam Abrahams, Kate Overman and Megan Pettit to represent GB at the World Age Championships in Russia in just four week’s time.
Despite the fact that all four are members of their respective national squads, in what is an Olympic sport, this trip is a self-funded one.
If anyone would be interested in helping the club or these rising stars towards their costs, please get in touch with Sue Lawton, senior coach at Edgbarrow Trampoline Club through the website www.edgbarrow.co.uk
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