Ipswich's Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club can now officially boast two of the top junior gymnasts in the country following the British Age Group Championships in Guildford recently.

Ipswich's Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club can now officially boast two of the top junior gymnasts in the country following the British Age Group Championships in Guildford recently.

In the Level Four competition, nine-year-old Molly Taylor held onto a seventh place finish, despite a fall on the beam.

With the results added to the grades gained at the regional competition held earlier in the year though, Taylor managed to hold on to the silver medal position over the combined competitions and confirm herself as second in the country for her category.

In the same competition, Charlotte Mwayi and Miri Budd both fell on beam but went clean on all other pieces. After the combined scores were added up, Mwayi finished 15th, while Budd came 34th.

In the Level Four competition, Alice Foster finished fifth, her combined scores confirming her as the fourth best ten-year-old in the country.

Head Coach Andy Wood said: “Both Molly and Alice had injuries in the build up to this competition so the preparation wasn't how we would of liked it, but full credit has to go to their grit and determination. To have two girls in the top six is fantastic.”

Also competing for Pipers Vale was Sophie Howe in the elite grade retakes.

Howe had failed the elite grade in March and a second failure would have meant at least two years before she could compete in the British Championships.

Despite this pressure, Howe put in superb performance to pass with flying colours, her overall score not only being the highest on the day, but a higher mark than the winner in March.

Wood said: “Sophie failed in March due to falling and missing out part of the range and conditioning routine so we had our fingers crossed that she wouldn't make the same mistake this time.

“She went clean on bars, beam and floor with excellent scores, but in range and conditioning she almost fell again at the exact same point as last time, but with a mighty effort she managed to pull it back and complete the rest of the routine flawlessly.”

Howe's pass performance now means she will be eligible to compete in next years Espoir Under-13 British Championships.