Jersey gymnasts find a new home

Alex Buesnel will benefit from new and improved facilities

Jersey Special Gymnastic Club have ended their eighteen-month search for a new home by finding a permanent base at Greenfield's Centre in St Saviour.

The club was forced into looking for a new venue after its old facility at Mont a l'Abbe school was turned into a dining room.

The club will move into its new facilities in early December much to the delight of head coach John Grady.

"So many people expressed concern - we really appreciate that," Grady said.

"And so many tried to come up with a solution - well done to the Greenfield's people."

The venue is twice as big with all the extra area I think they'll improve

John Grady

Grady was keen to avoid affecting the gymnasts' preparations for the forthcoming National Championships.

"I don't want to interrupt that training so we must be sure we can move the equipment across in a short time," he explained.

Three members of the club, Alex Buesnel, Samantha Godel and Harry Smale are also in the Great Britain squad travelling to the Blume Festival in Gran Canaria at the end of November.

And Grady believes the new facilities will dramatically help the higher level athletes.

"The venue is twice as big as Mont a l'Abbe use to be, so now we can do a proper vault," he said.

"At Mont a l'Abbe they were flattening themselves on one wall and nearly going through the other end - with all the extra area I think they'll improve."