Author: jon

The I.S.G.A Family

jon People
Nikki Towner and Hayley Towner, Gymnastics coaches at Vinehall Prep School, East Sussex. Taken here at the 5 Piece championships in March 2016. Photo by: Dave May DEphotos
Nikki Towner and Hayley Towner, Gymnastics coaches at Vinehall Prep School, East Sussex. Taken here at the 5 Piece championships in March 2016. Photo by: Dave May DEphotos

Nikki (right) taught gymnastics, amongst other things, at Bodiam Manor School, East Sussex.

On her birthday in 1993 she entered her team into the first GISGA Under 9 Premier 5 Piece Championships, held at Gerrard’s Cross, Buckinghamshire, and came away celebrating her first national team title with daughter Hayley placed 4th individually.

Nikki later moved to teach at nearby Vinehall School, Robertsbridge, and has since hosted this competition on a number of occasions. Hayley went on to compete in GISGA for a number of years. She is now a qualified coach herself and trains the gymnastics teams alongside her mother at Vinehall School.  Nikki and Hayley make a great mother and daughter team!

We would love to hear from you if you started off as a gymnast and are now back with us as a teacher, coach or official etc. Or you may have started as a teacher or official and now your children are competing in our competitions etc. I believe there are a number of you out there!  Please send a short text and photo to:  chairman@isgagymnastics.org  and join our family history.

Stuart Dunkley Honoured With Crystal Award

jon MISGA History
Linda McNally and Stuart Dunkley
Linda McNally and Stuart Dunkley

Stuart Dunkley, from Peterborough, was honoured at the 19th MISGA Championships for his role over the years as Judge and then Head Judge at this competition, which until this year has been held at the Blue Coat School at Edgbaston in Birmingham.  He was presented with a boxed crystal gift from fellow official, Linda McNally.  Stuart has been judging at independent schools’ gymnastics events since 1991 and been appointed to the role of Head Judge at GISGA, I.S.G.A., IAPS and ISA championships, as well as MISGA.

Glenda and Albert Exton Honoured With Crystal Award

jon MISGA History
Glenda and Albert Exton
Glenda and Albert Exton

At the 19th MISGA Gymnastics Championships in April 2016 at Stamford Endowed School in Lincolnshire, Glenda and Albert Exton, seen here with official Linda McNally, were presented with a boxed crystal award to honour and thank them for many years of working alongside their daughter Trudy Smith, an ex gymnast and now teacher at Stamford, to host numerous gymnastics championships.

Glenda has also been the chief scorer for many years at MISGA, as well as the IAPS and GISGA championships.

Glenda and Albert, along with other members of the Exton family, play their part in ensuring their granddaughter, Lottie Smith, is transported to and from her gym training sessions and competitions. Lottie has just been selected for the England Squad.