Edenfield gymnast, 11, takes part in national competition

Ted Havers, 11, helped his North West team to sixth place at the Men’s Artistic National Elite and Club Development Grades at Telford, a national gymnastics competition.

Ted has been part of the North West team for the last three years and his favourite apparatus is parallel bars, for which he scored 8.8 out of 10.

At the competition he also competed on vault, high bar, floor, rings and pommel and physical preparation program, a series of moves to demonstrate strength and flexibility.

The Haslingden High School student said: “There were around 2,000 to 3,000 people there so it was very busy, but I am used to this, to me it is just normal and that doesn’t faze me.

“There were five gymnasts representing the North West and we know a lot of the other gymnasts well and we all support each other.

Ted Havers, 11, takes part in national gymnastics competition (Image: Ted Havers)“For me, it is really fun and when you have been in a competition, the next training sessions are more fun on the trampoline and doing different games, before it then gets back to the serious side of preparing for the next competition.

“Then you find yourself going through the same routine over and over again so you can get it perfect.”

In his latest competition, Ted scored 9.7/10 for vault and 9.65/10 for pommel.

Overall, the North West team came third for pommel and sixth for vault.

Ted said: “I would have scored higher marks on the high bar, but I didn’t manage to get to a handstand.

“I am hoping to get up to grade six level without having any serious injuries.”

The next competition for the North West team will be in April and as the competitors will be able to do their own routines, Ted is looking forward to it.

Ted trains with Bury Gymnastics Club five times a week, and six when there is a competition coming up.