From our humble beginnings in the 1970’s up until today, our motto has always been to make gymnastics available to the local community. The following timeline outlines some of our most important milestones so far.
2016
In early 2016, we wished farewell to two of our former artistic coaches and welcomed our team of four new assistant head coaches. We invested over 50,000 into the expansion of our facility, including the installation of foam training pits, a state-of-the-art fast-track, a new set of double bars, a brand-new adjustable metal bar, and a brand new balance beam. We introduced our freshly overhauled development squad program, who soon had great success in their first competition, increased the training opportunities for our regional squad gymnasts, split our recreational classes up into different ability levels and added additional extra-fun classes for our slightly older gymnasts, such as our very popular BounceTastics, Young Adult and GymFit classes.
2014
We marked our three-year anniversary at Weddington Terrace by launching a new annual Club Award – The Casson Cup. This will be awarded each year to a club member: volunteer, coach, parent or gymnast, who has made a significant contribution to the Club Community. Donated personally by Andy Casson, each year the recipient will receive £250 to donate to a local good course of their choice. In February we launched our holiday club which we aim to run during all school holidays, and will be open to members and non-members alike. All profits from the holiday club will be reinvested into the Club and used to purchased new equipment and improve facilities. In March 2014 Andy Casson was awarded Local Sports Personality of the Year at a reception held at Bedworth Civic Hall. In accepting his award, Andy dedicated it to all the volunteers, coaches, parents and gymnasts who have worked so hard to build the Club.
2013
In January local MP Marcus Jones officially opened the new mezzanine with guests from Sport England and Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Sport (CWS) and British Gymnastics. In April we welcomed Strictly Dance Academy who moved in upstairs. The income generated from leasing out our newly renovated dance studio was reinvested in new coaches. In September we launched a new community initiative aimed at attracting pre-school children into sport, supported by Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Sport (CWS) and British Gymnastics. From September 2013 – May 2014 we ran free weekly sessions at local venues for children to have a go at gymnastics. The aim was to increase participation in sport and specifically gymnastics. In December 2013 we said goodbye to Andy Casson, who having fulfilled his vision to take the Club from its roots at Etone and transform it into the Club we have today, felt the time was right to hand on to the next generation. We welcomed Art Lessel and Sam Thompson as joint Head Coaches. During 2013, membership of the Club reached 400 and continues to grow.
2012
Having survived our first year in our new premises, we set out to maximise the benefits of having our own facility. In June, we successfully applied for £55k from the Olympic Legacy/Sport England Inspired Facilities Fund, which we used to: install a mezzanine floor for use as a viewing gallery; upgrade the lighting in the gym; renovate the upper floor to create a dance studio; install a club office. In November we were granted Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) status, which secures the long term future of the Club as a facility for the local community, run by elected members on a not-for-profit basis. We also had a very successful year of fund raising, with a wonderful donation of £3k from Nuneaton Flower Guild. Within the Club, the members raised a further £5k to buy an inflatable air track to help gymnasts with their jumps, twists and tumbling.
2011
In January 2011 the Club moved to its current base in Weddington Terrace. Over Christmas 2010/2011, with the help of an army of volunteers, parents, children and coaches, we renovated, cleaned and painted an old industrial unit to create the gym we have today, complete with a new sprung floor and the full range of training apparatus. Under the leadership of our new Head Coach and Business Manager Andy Casson, in February 2011 we opened the doors to our 90 members who followed us from Etone During our first year we launched: day-time Pre-school Classes; adult gym session on a Monday evening and gymnastic parties. We also expanded our recreational classes, which enabled us to double our membership within the first 12 months. We also invested in training 12 new Level 1 coaches to enable us to grow capacity and expand our classes even further.
2000s
2008 the decision was taken by the committee to run the Club independently of the Nuneaton and Bedworth Leisure Trust as a non-profit organisation and ultimately move into our own premises. 2007 was the beginning of a new era for the Club with Elfie Allen stepping down as head coach and retiring from gymnastics. 2006 Nuneaton Olympic Gymnastic Club gained the British Gymnastic “Gym Mark” showing the Club to be “safe, effective and child friendly”.
1990s
The decision was taken to focus attention on Etone Sports Centre and the club was renamed the Nuneaton Olympic Gymnastic Club.
1970s
The Club’s journey started with Exhall Olympic Gymnastic Club which was coached by Elfie Allen. In 1978 Elfie was approached by the Recreational Manager for Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, Toni Ojasso, who proposed setting up a new club for the residents of the borough. Elfie and her committee commenced training sessions, split across four venues: Etone Sports Centre and the Jubilee Centre in Nuneaton and The Alex Wilson Centre and Elizabeth Centre in Bedworth.During that first year Elfie held two coaching courses, enabling a few teachers and people interested in the sport to qualify and to assist in running the club over the four sites. The Club was established and, in order to be competitive against other clubs, it was named “Nuneaton & Bedworth Olympic Gymnastic Club”.