THREE Carlow girls have reached the pinnacle of their chosen sport of acrobatic gymnastics.
Anya Farrell, Marianne Quirke-Bolt and Lauren Holohan, all pupils at Gaelcholáiste Cheatharlach, have been selected to represent Ireland at the 2012 World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships, the ultimate competitive arena of this sport which is held every two years.
Rigorous national trials took place recently in Carlow where six groups from various categories presented for scrutiny by the judges.
Spectators were treated to a showcase of excellence from Marianne, Lauren and Anya in the 11-16 age-group category.
Their scores on the day placed them in a unique position as the only gymnasts to reach the required standard for selection to the world championships to be held in Disneyworld, Florida in April.
An important contributing factor to the girls’ success is the dedication of their coach Michael Hughes.
Michael travels from Dublin to Carlow several times a week, purely motivated by passion for his sport and the desire to bring his gymnasts to the highest possible level.
Since forming a trio in 2010 Lauren, Anya and Marianne have shown god form.
Following their spectacular success at the 2010 European Championships in Poland where they secured 4th place, the girls continued to blaze a trail of high achievements throughout 2011.
Capturing the notice of international judges at the Celtic Cup, Scotland, Flanders International Acro Cup, Belgium and the 2011 European Championships, Bulgaria these girls achieved excellent scores.
Mixing with the superstars of the sport from Russia, Britain, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Bulgaria Anya, Marianne and Lauren have cultivated a wealth of experience at such events and are comfortable in the company of these international gymnasts.
Relentless training is a crucial element which drives the girls forward and thanks to the generosity of a local businessman a suitable venue was provided where the competition floor was moved and reassembled, thus enabling the girls to train throughout the Christmas holiday period ahead of the world championship trials.
Meanwhile, the tri are one of four groups from Carlow gymnastics club selected to compete as part of the Irish team at the Celtic Cup in Belfast on 17 March.
Aine McGoff, Roisin Brennan, Roisin Travers and Katya Farrell, Ciara Carew and Eilish O’Neill will compete in the grade 2 competition, while Roisin O Toole, Claire Delaney and Lauren Whelan will compete in the grade 1 section.
Two groups from the club, Aine McGoff, Roisin Brennan and Roisin Travers, and Ciara Carew, Katya Farrell and Eilish O Neill, will travel to the Maia Acrobatic Cup in Portugal at the end of February to compete in an international invitational competition.
The girls, who will be representing the club, will compete in the youth section, and it should be a great experience for all, with some of the gymnasts as young as nine-years old.