Last week more than 300 top trampolinists from nearly 80 clubs around the country were in Chippenham for the National B Finals and Brentwood's Cloud Nine trampoline club was well represented with six finalists.

To qualify for this competition is itself an achievement but the consistency and performance of Cloud Nine's competitors ensured not only outstanding scores but five medals as well with one of these being a gold medal .

The Under 18 girls final was strongly contested with 45 finalists competing for just five medals and it achieved three of the top ten scores of the whole competition.

Two of these were from Cloud Nine with Suzanne Perkins, 15, winning Gold (National B Champion, U18) with a score of 87.2 (the second highest score of the day), while Joanna Woodger, also 15, was just 0.9 behind in Bronze position with the seventh highest score.

The Under 13 girls group was nearly as big with 44 competitors including Cloud Nine's Kerry Elsdon, 11, and Carly Bedford, 12.

Kerry Elsdon, competing a routine with a much lower tariff than most of the other finalists, showed excellent form to take the fifth place runner up medal with a top-50 score of 82.6.

Carly, however, just missed out on the medal places.

The remaining Cloud Nine squad members were James Davies, 8, and Francesca Carter, 8, who were competing in the Under 11 boys and Under 9 girls groups where they both won Silver medals with scores of 80.5 and 79.5.

These younger age groups tend to be smaller since few under 11's are able to achieve the high standards necessary but they are still fiercely competitive.

Hannah Davies had also qualified to compete but was already committed to a gymnastics challenge competition on the same day.

However, this was not enough to stop her achieving recognition.

When Hannah came to catch the end of the competition, she and James Davies were both invited to attend trials for the Welsh National Squad and if successful it is possible that they will be competing in International trampoline competitions in future.

Speaking afterwards the Cloud Nine squad's coach, Caroline Arno said "These results are outstanding and next year most of these youngsters will be competing at still higher levels.

''With the number of performers and coaching structure we have, though, I believe that Cloud Nine will continue to go from strength to strength, making an impact at this level with our upcoming youngsters''.

Trampolining is not only great fun but gives many physical benefits, such as strengthening of limbs, muscle tone, balance and co-ordination, reaction speed and stamina.

Cloud Nine bounces regularly at Courage Hall and runs courses at all levels for all ages. Anybody who may be interested in trying the sport out, is invited to telephone the Courage Hall on 01277 227522 for fuller details.

Golden girl . . Cloud Nine Trampoline Club's Suzanne Perkins, who was a gold medal winner at the National B Finals in Chippenham.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.