About Us

where it all began

Sleaford Gymnastics Club was formed in 1996, beginning weekly classes in a small school hall. The club has since grown steadily and moved to larger premises in 1997. Due to continued growth in membership, it was necessary to move again in 2000 to our current premises on Westgate. We now have the capacity to run classes for three different levels at the same time, which we’re able to do with the support from our team of experienced volunteer assistant coaches. Children work towards the British Gymnastics Association awards schemes and learn skills on all pieces of apparatus including the vault, bars, beam, sprung floor and other gymnastics training aids such as the trampoline and air track. For gymnasts that have the ability and commitment we offer training to progress through to competition levels, we offer squad training to develop through to County Regional and National levels.

Head coach – sammi Emsley – 07507116210

Hi there, my name is Sammi (Samantha) and I have been involved in gymnastics now for over 30 years. At the young age of 6, I started my first gymnastics session at the Ladybirds Gymnastics Club in Sheffield….. that was it, I was hooked. I loved the sport from day one and within a few months was attending classes several times a week. I progressed very quickly and was put into the clubs Junior squad to train for competitions. My favourite piece of apparatus has always been the bars, so much so that my mum made me my very own bar in the garden to go alongside my beam.

As the years went by I moved to another club “Steel City Gmynastics Club” and trained under the guidance of an amazing gentleman “Max Sime” and my committed mother “Maria”. I successfully performed in many displays and competitions so that I held many many titles including Yorkshire under 8,10,12 & 14`s champion as well as qualifiying eight years running to represent Yorkshire.

I competed at County, Regional & National levels and travelled all over the UK to compete and at the age of 12 years fulfilled my dream and qualified through several heats to compete at “WEMBLEY STADIUM” in the Junior gymnast of the year. This event was particularly sweet as a week before I had been in A and E which threatening my participation. After much consideration, my coach decided I could compete but had to take out some of my higher level skills. I was happy with that…. I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity for anything. It was my most exciting trip with in my gymnastics career. Hundreds of gymnasts trained hard to qualify for this exciting event which was televised and I finished of as one of the top 8 in the Country.

From there we trained at National level on a regular basis including a trip to Bulgaria where we trained and competed. At 15 I competed in the British Championships, but it was at this point that I decided to turn my attentions to coaching. Even now, all these years on, I still miss my competitive days but I needed to pass on my knowledge and passion of this wonderful sport to as many youngsters as keen to learn as I was.

In 1995 I moved from Sheffield down to Sleaford, and in 1996 founded SLEAFORD GYMNASTICS CLUB. The club’s very first session was held on the 2nd Novemeber 1996 in the old St Botolph`s school hall with just floor mats, a low beam and approx 60 members. Its success meant that in Feb 1997 we moved to the Northgate Sports hall where we were able to use some of the schools equipment and let the club grow. We started entering competitions in Lincolnshire in 1997 and have had many success stories to add to our still growing titles, one of our gymnasts even qualified for National finals which is absolutely fantastic for the club. The club has steadily grown over the years and we currently hold over 100 members ranging from recreational beginner levels through to National level.