Gillingham Jumper wins national title
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Medway Olympian Gary Smith made a giant leap towards qualification for the World Championships with victory at the National Trampolining Championships, on 15 July 2007. The Jumpers star won the Over 19 men's event and was narrowly beaten to first place in the overall men's competition at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham at the weekend. Gary, who represented Great Britain at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, achieved the same score as the fellow competitor James Higgins in the men's event but lost out on the count back rule. |
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It wasn't the first time Gary has lost out on a national title this way. He has now tied for first place four times at national finals, only once emerging the winner.
But he was still happy with his weekend's work. He said: "Overall it's the best I have competed all season. Things are going in the right direction."
Gary's main aim this season is the World Championships, being held in Quebec in November. The National Championships was the first of three trials for the World Championships, with Gary vying for one of four places in the GB men's team.
He said: "That's the event I want to peak for."
Gary, who is also a coach at the Jumpers Rebound Centre in Gillingham, has represented Great Britain since 2001, competing in World Cups and European Championships. He finished seventh in the individual men's event in Athens and after this year's World Championships has his sights firmly set on Beijing 2008.
Gary was joined by several other Jumpers competitors at the National Championships.
Matthew Swaffer came sixth in the O19 men's event while Jason Plowman was 18th in the same event. The pair also ranked 13th and 14th respectively in the men's event.
U11 competitor Daina Rose came seventh while Lauren Sears was 11th in the U13 girls' event.
Sam Dent, Tom Foreman and David Hewlett all took part in the U17 boys' event, finishing 12th, 14th and 15th.
Mitchel Benham came 13th in the U15 boys' competition and Georgina Varley was 26th in the U17 girls event.
July 2007 news