An Ilkley Grammar School student, Holly Roper-Newman, won the gold medal in the figure section of the annual Yorkshire Grades Synchronised Swimming Competition, at Kippaxon Saturday.
Year Nine pupil Holly is a grade two about to sit her grade three exam. She also won a bronze for her solo.
Synchronised swimming demands a lot of stamina training, and she trains at the Bradford University Synchronised Swimming Club.
The girls have to glycerine their hair when competing, so that the judges can see the athletic movements clearly. She wore a multi-coloured costume with a pink and white headdress; both floral. Her friend Hailey Mainman, a Bingley Grammar school student, won the gold for her solo.
Sheila Gooch of Ilkley and Clare Macina from Addingham, both put in a lot of hard work coaching voluntarily all the year round so that girls can develop these techniques effectively.
Kate Gibson in the sixth form at Ilkley Grammar school, a grade six (who swims for the North East Team) and Louise Bodger, a year eleven pupil (a grade three) also help to coach the younger girls.
Holly is now looking forward to her next competition, in Newcastle, in July.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article