Lady luck smiles on Rivers gymnast
- Details
- Published on Thursday, January 22, 2015
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
After spending three days in Las Vegas for gymnastic competition, 13-year-old Amber Pomeroy came back to her hometown of Rivers on Monday, Jan. 19. Besides returning with her luggage, she also brought home an assortment of medals.
Although she travelled with Brandon Eagles provincial team (10 members and three coaches), she competed as an individual, based on age and skill level, at the 2015 Lady Luck Invitational which was held Jan. 17. She participated in five events and placed well in each category: fifth in vault with a score of 8.725, third on balance beam with 8.825, second on bars at 9.4, first on floor events (9.475) and a first-place in the all-around competition with a final tally of 36.425 points. Amber competed against 13 girls and each time, she was the only Canadian; all other teams entered were American. After culmination of individual scores of each Eagles athlete, the team was awarded fourth place at the competition.
Last month Amber and a team of 20 gymnasts from Brandon Eagles travelled to Fargo, ND to compete in their American Gold Crystal Classic. At that event, Amber won second in bars, third on floor and fourth in vaulting, balance beam and the all-around event. At Fargo, her provincial team (which also includes Rivers’ Sera Gilbert*) won first in the team competition.
Amber trains 10 hours each week and is now working on perfecting moves for competition in Winnipeg next month and in Regina in March. Amber has been a member of Brandon Eagles Gymnastics Club since 2009 and joined the regional team in 2011. Last March she met all necessary qualifications to represent Westman at the 2014 Power Smart Manitoba Winter Games where she won four medals — a gold, two silvers and one bronze. Two months later (May 2014) she joined the provincial team and travelled to Canmore, Alta. for a competition.
* Sera, aged nine, claimed third place in vault, bars, floor and all-around at her second-ever competition, Excel Silver (a different title for the younger age). She has been learning gymnastics for three years and travels to Brandon three days a week to practise there.
Nine-year-old Taylor Bridgeman of Rivers is a member of Brandon Eagles Regional Team, but she did not compete at Fargo or Las Vegas; only provincial teams competed there. Taylor trains two days a week and will participate in meets throughout Manitoba.
