Mon. Nov 18th, 2024

Tamworth’s Country Capital Cup gymnastics competition will be held from 7-9 June at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Conference Centre. Now in its 11th year, the event is the largest invitational competition of its kind in Australia, and 2024 promises to be another huge year.

Jodie McGinnity from the Tamworth Gymnastics Club (TGC) said the event started as a dream of Stephen and Jan McGinnity’s to bring a high quality, high standard event to the country area.

“It was inspired by the city versus country events in other sports, as well as inspired by large scale events held in America, that the Tamworth Gymnastics Club has attended over the past decade.”

“The event has been executed by the McGinnity family – myself, sister Rebecca and grandmother Carmen in addition to Mum and Dad – and driven by our incredibly amazing team of volunteers at TGC.”

The first event in 2014 welcomed around 250 competitors from around 14 clubs but has continued to grow each year. 2024 has TGC expecting to host around 1000 gymnasts, as well as around 300 officials and over 3000 spectators.

Ms McGinnity said gymnasts this year will all hail from NSW and the ACT however in previous years they have hosted national and international participants and hope to do so again in future contests.

Ms McGinnity was also very proud to announce that Olympic gymnast Georgia Godwin will also be attending as an ambassador for this year’s competition.

“Georgia heard about the event from her Club mates at All The Way Up Gymnastics and is excited to be our CCC Ambassador this year,” said Ms McGinnity.

“Georgia competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and she is also the 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist and 2018 Bronze Medalist.”

“Unfortunately, she sustained an Achilles injury recently and is unable to compete at the Paris games this year. She is an amazing young lady and the gymnasts attending the CCC will be very lucky to be able to meet her.”

Ms McGinnity welcomes the Tamworth community to come and be a part of what is shaping up to be a very exciting weekend of gymnastic competition.

“Spectators are very welcome to attend and best of all entry is completely free,” said Ms McGinnity.

“Some of the best gymnasts in Australia will be competing – Many have returned from the Australian Championships last week with medals, and will be amazing to watch in the premier session on Saturday at 4:30 pm.”

“All we ask is that spectators support our fund-raising efforts by lurching delicious food and drink from our Club canteen or buying a raffle Ticket. We will also have Cafe 2U in the venue all weekend.”

If you can’t make it this year, be sure to keep an eye out for the 2025 event as Ms McGinnity already has big plans for next year.

“We hope to bring an international flavour back to the event next year, as I am currently consulting in India for a gymnastics club in Mumbai, and there is significant interest in the CCC over here. Fingers crossed we will have a team here next year.”

For more information about Tamworth Gymnastics Club and the Country Capital Cup, visit the TCG Facebook page.  


Like what you’re reading? Support The New England Times by making a small contribution today and help us keep delivering local news paywall-free. Support now