A GYMNASTICS club is celebrating after receiving a prestigious award.

After a very successful start to the year Stourdale Gymnastic Club of Great Bentley have been awarded the prestigious eastern region small club of the year.

Following the Essex and Suffolk grading competition earlier in the month gymnast Claire Dansie became County Champion gaining the gold medal and trophy for an excellent performance in the grade five competition.

Megan Paddock gave an equally impressive performance for second place in the same competition.

In British Club grade four Alice Browning passed her grade with ease by nearly four whole marks.

In the grade six competition Jessica Coe's consistent high scores on each piece earned her the silver medal in a closely fought competition and finished just 0.2 behind the winner.

Other competitors taking part were Jorgia Vaughan (9), Chloe Rose (8), Bobbi Lennard (8) and Jacinta Allen (7) all scored enough to gain distinctions and places in the regional finals.

After excellent competition results in 2007 Chloe Rose and Bobbi Lennard were chosen to train with the Essex County squad and were both accepted following an assessment trial.

The club only has 30 members and are regularly beating gymnasts from clubs with much bigger premises and are often seen practising there floor routines on Great Bentley Green to get the floor directions as the club does not have enough room for a full floor area.

These achievements were most recently recognised by the Eastern Region in their annual awards ceremony.

The club was nominated by the Essex gymnastic Commitee for the Small Club of the year award - to qualify for this award the club has to have under 100 members.

The club was shortlisted and after votes were counted Stourdale Gymnastic Club was awarded the honour much to the delight of its members.

The club has been open 29 years this year and has six qualified coaches all working as volunteers.

Two of the coaches were also honoured at the awards night.

Joan stevens was awarded a 20-year service award to coaching and her daughter Tracie Allen gained a 20-year service award as a distinquished judge.