GYMNASTICS: TWO gymnasts from Ipswich-based Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club took part in the British Championships for women, which is the biggest competition of the year for the gymnasts.

Two gymnasts from Ipswich-based Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club took part in the British Championships for women, which is the biggest competition of the year for the gymnasts.

From these championships gymnasts are selected for national squads and international competitions.

Pascal Craymer took part in the Junior Event for girls aged 13-15 years and was looking to improve on her 24th place from 12 months ago.

Craymer competed extremely well and actually beat some gymnasts that were already part of the national squad and some of them seasoned inter-nationals.

Craymer finished the competition in eighth place which now gives her a national ranking of eighth.

Emma Grisdale took part in the Senior Competition for gymnast aged 15 years plus.

Grisdale was of the oldest gymnasts in action and she enjoyed a fantastic competition – again beating some national squad members as well as established internationals.

The Pipers Vale star was lying fourth overall until she made three mistakes on beam which relegated her into eighth place and she too is now ranked number eight in the country.

"It's fantastic to have two more gymnasts to add to Rosalie Hutton now ranked in the top ten in the country," said Pipers Vale head coach Andy Wood.

"It's the first time in the history of any individual club in the county to have this many members ranked so highly."

The two girls also qualified for individual apparatus finals – the first time any gymnast from an Ipswich club has done so.

Craymer reached the Asymmetric Bar final where she finished seventh and is now ranked the seventh best on bars in the country.

Grisdale qualified for finals in the vault, bar and floor exercises.

She claimed eighth place in the vault – earning her a corresponding national ranking - together with fifth on bar and seventh on floor .

Grisdale's combined performance was the best result any Suffolk gymnast had produced in the national championships in the last 20 years.

The girls must now wait to hear if they have made the national squad and whether they now qualify to compete in any international competitions.