Alan is set to travel in July 2012 to California to compete in an event that will also see his very close friends from Texarkana Texas, also take part. With his friends of Victory Gym club in San Diego. ( Sophie laughs at her coach in Texas)
Club owner Shawna is the mastermind behind the whole story as it was her suggestion that Alan return to San Diego and also his good friends Lloyd & Amy from Texas too to have a gymnastics meet. Alan was on Face Book trying to get Shawna to come to England when she turned the table on him. This meet will bring together both of Arabian’s USA gym club friends.
The party of 12 at present consists of Alan, Annie, Mollie Davies, Paul, Tamzin Hill, Ellie Hewitt, Poppy Gibbs, Sophie Fretwell, Tionne Cumberbatch, Bex Whatmore and Hannah " Brookie" Bond.
Coach Miss Amy our wonderful host, checks Tionne is still ok, Texarkana texas 2011
The gymnasts are staying in a very nice hotel down in San Diego and as well as training and competing they will also get the opportunity to sight see and have trips out.
" It’s always a hard task going on trips but the enjoyment and excitement of organising and doing it all, always outweighs the hardship of it all. At present I have a party of 12, there is possibly room for one more gymnast.." Al
The youngest gymnast on the trip is Tamzin Hill aged presently 9 but will be ten when she travels. Tamzin is highly excited to be going with the top gymnasts at the club and some are very much seasoned travellers as well.
Poppy Gibbs is making her 3rd trip to USA, Sophie Fretwell it will be her 2nd, Ellie Hewitt has been to Canada, Texas twice and this will be her 4th overseas trip. Bex Whatmore has also been to Canada and Texas with Alan and this will be for her the 2nd trip to California and 4th overall.
18 year old Bex said " Larry and the girls at Victory gym club made us all feel so at home it was just like being at home, but with sunshine. I can't begin to tell you just how excited I am to have this wonderful opportunity to travel there once again"
Tionne has also been to USA and Hannah Bond has competed and won gold in the Rockies of Canada, so for Lousia and Tamzin who have not travelled abroad with the club, they are with some very experienced girls. As for Alan he has travelled with gymnast for many years with two trips to Canada, three trips to Texas and one to California. Other trips have been to Tasmania, Australia and Malta in 1999.
A few years ago he and Donna took three gymnasts to Sri Lanka to work in schools which was very hard and difficult but very rewarding indeed.
So this will be his 10th overseas trip and he loves the excitement and joy it brings to those that go.
" It’s a great way of getting gymnasts to not just bond with each other but to also be strong and mentally strong as well. To meet new people and experiences abroad, to get those wonderful connections with other gymnasts.
I have loved doing it and find it very rewarding to give the gymnasts something they perhaps would otherwise not experience, for me that is the biggest buzz of all.
I used to say well they won't be in the sport for long so best they do these trips whilst they are young, yet i have some of these girls who have been with me ten and 12 years!!
I think this might be my last trip abroad for a while, i think in 2013 and 2014 i would like to be the host......but Hawaii has been calling... ” Al
