Catleaps Gymnastics
volunteering
As well as our Gymnastics Classes in Dagenham and Upminster, Catleaps has a strong volunteer programme for parents, coaches, gymnasts and other volunteers at events. Once you’ve joined the club you can sign up to help out!
Gymnasts, parents and coaches from the club have volunteered at the Men’s British Championships and The Men’s London Open – both Men’s Artistic Gymnastics events.
Additionally, the London Youth Games Gymnastics Finals, London Schools Acro and Tumbling Finals, and The London Festival of Gymnastics. Also, General Gymnastics and Women’s Artistic Regional Competitions.
And finally, the Schools National Finals and East London Keysteps Finals. We have also volunteered at the Military Vehicle and Machines Show.
One of the events we volunteered at was the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics British Championships. Here we met Olympic bronze medallist Louis Smith, World Medallists Daniel Purvis and Daniel Keatings who were kind enough to have their photographs taken with our volunteers. They also signed autographs and accepted some letters & drawings of appreciation from some of our younger volunteers!
International Gymnastics
LONDON 2012
In 2009, six members of Catleaps were lucky enough to volunteer at the World Championships held at the 02 Arena.
It was gymnastics heaven with Gymnastics Greats walking around the arena. Queen of the ‘Perfect TEN’ Nadia Comaneci 1976 All around Champion came into the warm-up arena to meet us.
2008 Olympic Champion Nastia Liukin, 2004 Olympic Champion Alexei Nemov. Multiple World medallist with a 20-year+ career Oksana Chusovitina was coaching the German Women’s Team. 2012 was a big year for volunteering at the Olympics in our home city.
The Visa Prepares Test Event was held in January 2012 at the North Greenwich Arena (formerly the 02) and was the final qualification for the GB Men’s team to qualify. They did this in emphatic style winning the team competition with a seven-point lead to take their team’s place at the Olympics.
During the 2012 Olympics, Catleaps were out in force helping run the Greatest Gymnastics Competition on earth! We got to see Louis Smith MBE take Silver and Max Whitlock MBE take the bronze on the Pommel Horse. Beth Tweddle MBE claimed the bronze on Bars. The GB men’s team claimed 3rd place in the Team Competition.
As the Competition Director for the Men’s London Open which is now established as a National and International Artistic Gymnastics Competition, I can not speak highly enough of the volunteers from Catleaps. Every year they give up hours of unpaid time to come and work in key roles at the competition. Always with excellent attitude, attention to detail and a friendly smile. They are so ably led by Catherine Bates, and who herself has taken the gymnastics world by storm in the last few years with such energy that everyone from Catleaps feels inspired to follow in her footsteps.
Ben Murphy - Artistic Gymnastics Manager for London 2012 Olympics & Executive Board Member London Gymnastics
International Gymnastics
Men's London Open
Members of Catleaps including staff, volunteers, gymnasts, parents and relatives have helped with the organisation of the Men’s London Open.
This is a prestigious Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Competition attracting the best male gymnasts in Great Britain and from further afield.
The competition has been running for over 100 years and is often used as a trial for selection into the Great Britain Men’s Artistic Team.
Our team of volunteers helped to ensure that the competition ran as smoothly as possible. This meant that the competitors could relax and focus on their performance.
Gymnastics in Dagenham
Catleaps Invitational
Three times a year, we run the Catleaps Invitational Competition, with girls and boys competing on Floor & Vault.
Clubs from across London, Essex and further afield attend the competition.
It’s a really enjoyable event, with gymnasts from beginner through to those with more advanced skills taking part, from age 4 to adults.
We have a competition host who keeps the audience involved, and a special guest to pose for photos with the gymnasts and to inspire them with their gymnastics journey.
Many of our gymnasts’ parents and relatives help us at the event to make sure it all runs smoothly.
If you are already a member of our gymnastics classes in Dagenham, or Upminster, find out more about the competition on the Catleaps Invitational page.
For gymnastics clubs that are keen to take part, you can visit our Catleaps Invitational Website.
