Basildon-based South Essex Gym Club flew the flag for Great Britain by capturing the top honours in a competition staged in Mobile, Alabama, in the United States.

Families in Mobile hosted the five gymnasts - including one on crutches who fractured her ankle on the day before departure - and two coaches who made the trip.

A total of 280 of the best gymnasts from all over Alabama and Florida competed in eight levels of competition and a team event at each level.

It appeared to be very different to the sort of competition the South Essex team were used to.

The thrill of international competition combined with slick organisation and a festival atmosphere produced the necessary adrenaline that saw the South Essex girls produce some of their best work to overcome the American opposition.

All the South Essex girls were competing at the highest level and the top score was achieved by Caroline Gilbert - a Great Britain senior gymnast - who scored an amazing 36.4 which gave her the overall championship.

She also won gold medals on bars and floor.

Nicola Willis, making her comeback from a long-term injury, scored 35.40 and finished in fourth place and won medals on all four pieces of apparatus.

The winner in the 15-plus age group was Christina Hughes, who scored 35.1. Christina won two gold and two silver medals.

In the youngest age group, 11-year-old Pascal Craymer won overall with a score of 34.45 and made a clean sweep of the golds on vault, bars, beam and floor.

Having done so well individually, the South Essex girls also won the team competition in Mobile.

American dream - for South Essex members (left to right): Caroline Gilbert, Karen Grieves, Pascal Craymer and Nicola Willis

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

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