Members of Charisma Gym Club are continuing to tumble their way to success despite being hampered by their training facilities.

The club holds its training sessions at Dulwich College, but, come examination time, the girls are restricted to doing basic exercises sometimes working between the school desks.

In competitions, the gymnasts often find themselves up against sides who have the benefit of modern apparatus and facilities, so their success is all the more impressive.

Last weekend, Jade Salim, 15, took the individual title at the Regional Championships at Heathrow Gym Club.

Meanwhile, Yasmin Smith, 13, won the National Champ-ionships, held in Kettering, and Taylor Eeden, 14, finished third.

The club is in the process of submitting a bid to Sport England for new £200,000 facilities at the college, which would house the gym club and a table tennis team.

Head coach Georgina Thompson said: "The current facilities are unacceptable because all we can teach are conditioning and ballet.

"I don't know how we have achieved such success and the credit must go to the coaches, who remain so committed, and the enthusiasm of the girls."

The club has raised about £6,000 for the new facilities, but needs more. If you are interested in sponsoring Charisma Gym Club call Georgina on 020 8462 8004.

May 29, 2003 12:00