Viva Lewes Issue #161 February 2020

UNDER 16s
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Sky High Trampoline
Reach for the stars
Fit and active children are more likely to become
fit and active adults. So says Gail Andrews,
head coach at the Sky High Trampoline Gymnastics
Academy in Uckfield – and she should
know. A former competitive gymnast herself, she
has introduced hundreds of children to the sport
in the ten years the Fun Abounds Trampoline &
Gymnastics Centre (home of the Academy) has
been running.
“It helps to get into sport as early as possible,”
she says, “as children who start young are
statistically more likely to continue as adults.
Keeping it fun is the important thing, as once
you have a love for a sport, you are more likely
to carry it on.”
Some children join the club at just three years
of age, she adds. “We start with pre-schoolers,
then go on to after-school classes from five years
upwards. We have adult classes too, and also
run groups for children and adults with special
needs, and one-to-ones. It’s great for flexibility
and strength, and very good aerobically too. We
have a few children with Cystic Fibrosis who use
the trampoline for the aerobic benefits.”
As well as the 400 to 500 children who enjoy
gymnastics recreationally at Fun Abounds, there
are about 100 who take part competitively and
make up the Academy side of the club.
One of these talented youngsters is 12-year-old
Alex Oakley (pictured), who recently represented
Great Britain in The World Age Games
at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo.
“I started gymnastics when I was three, then
trampolining when I was eight,” he recalls. “I
was a bit shy at first, and, when I first got on the
trampoline, I was all over the place. But it was
such fun that I wanted to learn how to stay in
the middle and do it properly, so I started coming
regularly. I got spotted to be on the England
Squad, and took part in my first national competition
when I was nine.”
Disciplines include Trampoline, Tumbling and
DMT (Double Mini Trampoline); Alex competes
in Trampolining and DMT.
“Tokyo was amazing, but hard work,” he says of
his appearance at The World Age Games. “The
whole team travelled out together, wearing the
GB kit, and it was a 12-hour flight. Then we
went straight into training. It was really strict.”
All that effort certainly paid off, as Alex got
through to the final and is now ranked seventh
in the world.
“Alex was one of those toddlers who was always
balancing and flipping,” says his mother, Helen
Oakley, “but I’d recommend trampolining to
anyone. It’s so much fun. Just come along and
have a go!” Anita Hall
funabounds.co.uk; 01825 768479
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