Golden Glory for Ruby Evans at the Commonwealth Games!

What a moment to remember! Ruby Evans, competing in the Floor Finals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, dazzled the crowd with a flawless routine that earned her the Gold Medal. The arena erupted in jubilation as her score appeared on the screen—tears of joy, cheers of pride, and smiles all around. It was a truly magical moment for Welsh gymnastics.

Ruby’s teammates—Jemima Taylor, Emily and Abigail Roper, and Frances Stone—shared in the celebration, their smiles saying everything about the pride and unity of this remarkable team. Ruby’s gold‑winning performance was the perfect culmination of dedication, artistry, and courage.

A heartfelt well done to Ruby and to everyone behind the scenes who helped make this incredible achievement possible. We at City of Newport Gymnastics Academy are especially proud to have hosted the Welsh Team for training sessions in preparation for the Games—it’s been an honour to support such inspiring athletes.

Ruby now turns her focus to representing Great Britain at the upcoming European Championships—and we know she’ll continue to shine on the international stage.

#GoRuby #DaIawn #CymruAmByth

We are so lucky to have some great supportive families at CNGA. Thank you so far to the following members for their amazing Big Fund Raiser 2026 efforts…..

SISSY FILIMON

NYA REYNOLDS

EVIE THORPE

AVALYN HALFORD

OLIVIA MURRAY

We look forward to hearing about your fund raising antics this Summer! Post them to us and we will share your fantastic efforts with everyone!!

The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow delivered unforgettable moments for Welsh gymnastics, and City of Newport Gymnastics Academy is thrilled to celebrate the exceptional achievements of Jemima Taylor and the entire Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Welsh team.

In a dramatic and exciting twist, Jemima was drafted into the uneven bars final at the very last moment—an opportunity that highlighted her readiness, maturity, and growing international reputation. Mid‑routine, she encountered a fall on her release‑and‑catch Geinger somersault, yet her response was nothing short of inspirational. Jemima regained her composure instantly, continued with grace, and closed her routine with a superb full‑in back‑out dismount that drew huge applause from the Glasgow crowd. Her smile as she saluted the judges captured her resilience and sportsmanship perfectly.

Jemima’s progress on the uneven bars, from a coach and spectator perspective has been remarkable, including 3 release and catch elements (Geinger Somersault in between the bars on the high bar, Shaposhnikova from low to high bar and Pak salto from high to low bar) and her ability to remain positive, composed, and gracious—even under pressure—cements her status as a true ambassador for artistic gymnastics. She is a shining example for every young gymnast dreaming of wearing the Welsh flag on their leotard. Jemima, we are incredibly proud of your courage, elegance, and heart.

The celebrations didn’t stop there. The Roper twins, Abigail and Emily, delivered outstanding medal‑winning performances in their apparatus finals. Abigail secured bronze on vault, while Emily claimed bronze on the uneven bars, marking a superb day for Wales and showcasing the strength and depth of the national squad.

Looking ahead, excitement builds as Ruby Evans, current British Champion and Paris 2024 Olympian, prepares to represent Wales in the Floor and Balance Beam finals tomorrow. Ruby experienced a minor setback in the Individual All‑Around competition with a fall during her double spin on beam—an example of just how fine the margins are at this elite level. Balancing high Difficulty (D‑score) with precise Execution (E‑score) is a constant challenge, and the judging panels have the tough job of combining both to determine the final score. Ruby, your determination and world‑class ability continue to inspire us all—go out there and smash it!

From everyone at City of Newport Gymnastics Academy, we send our heartfelt congratulations to Jemima, Abigail, Emily, Ruby, Frances, their coaches, and the entire Welsh team. What an extraordinary Games for Wales—diolch yn fawr and well done all!

The International Arena in Glasgow delivered a thrilling showcase of world‑class gymnastics, and the Welsh women’s team rose to the occasion with pride, power, and exceptional poise. Ruby Evans, Jemima Taylor, Abigail Roper, Emily Roper, and Frances Stone produced a series of outstanding routines against a highly competitive field representing nations from across the Commonwealth.

Wales dominated Sub‑Division Three, securing an impressive team total of 153.4 and setting the standard heading into the final subdivision. The concluding session featured powerhouse teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa, and England, each delivering routines of the highest international calibre. In a nail‑biting finish, the battle for the bronze medal came down to the very last routine of the day. England’s Abigail Martin delivered a superb floor performance, edging ahead of Wales by just 0.9—a razor‑thin margin that placed Wales in a highly respectable fourth position overall.

For Jemima Taylor, competing in her debut Commonwealth Games, the day was nothing short of extraordinary. Selected for uneven bars and floor, she delivered two beautifully executed routines—clean, confident, and technically excellent. The packed arena erupted with applause from the passionate Welsh supporters, celebrating her composure and brilliance on the international stage. Jemima’s performance was a triumph, and she can be immensely proud of her achievements.

From all of us at City of Newport Gymnastics Academy, we send our warmest congratulations. Well done, Jemima—your hard work and talent shone today.

#Participate#Enjoy#Achieve ! Go Jemima!!

Well done to all our gymnasts who took part in the Neyland Cup last weekend at the Welsh Institute of Sport Cardiff. You were absolutely amazing and we were so proud of your performances – each and every one of you.

The pictures below say it all and both Directors and supportive parents in the audience were incredibly proud of their gymnasts, their involvement in the Commonwealth Country theme and their team spirit in both competitions. Well done on your achievements at the competition and most importantly the camaraderie and support that you all gave each other.

The outstanding individual awards given on the day were fantastic too! Artistry on Floor for Keeley Williams and highest execution score on vault for Avalyn Halford and Evie Thorpe. A huge well done to both teams – TEAM AUSTRALIA and TEAM FIJI – #CNGA#Participate#Enjoy#Achieve!!

TEAM AUSTRALIA 6th place out of 9 teams

Skye, Avalyn, Georgina, Millie, Freya

TEAM FIJI 4th place out of 6 teams.

Keeley, Evie, Isla

Amazing – well done gymnasts !

Eight gymnasts will represent the Academy this weekend at the (Dorothy) Neyland Cup in the Welsh Institute of Sport Cardiff. The teams are

LEVEL 1 – 11/12 YEARS CATEGORY

Millie Rolfe, Avalyn Halford, Georgina Salijeni, Skye Hooper and Freya Edelman

LEVEL 1 – 13+ YEARS CATEGORY

Evie Thorpe, Keeley Williams, Isla Phillips

The competition is a floor and vault only event with gymnasts competing from all across South Wales. The theme this year is special as it is the Commonwealth Games year and each club entering the Neyland Cup have been assigned a Country by Welsh Gymnastics.

Our Level 1 11/12 years gymnasts will represent AUSTRALIA, and our level 1 13+ years gymnasts will represent FIJI. Both teams will dress up in the Country they have been assigned and design a poster to add fun to the competition. Parents of the gymnasts have been amazing in preparing the teams with the fancy dress outfits with flags of the Countrys’ to make this a memorable occasion.

Good Luck gymnasts – #Participate#Enjoy#Achieve! GO CNGA!!

For the fifth consecutive year, City of Newport Gymnastic Academy proudly hosted the prestigious GYMSTARS competition last weekend — marking the event’s 20th anniversary and Newport’s ninth year of participation. Having previously travelled to Falcons Gymnastics in Devon, Newport has been the official host since 2022, continuing a tradition of excellence and community spirit.

This year’s competition welcomed talented gymnasts from across the South West Region of England, stretching from Bristol to Penzance. Despite the summer heat, with air conditioning and ceiling fans working overtime, all six rounds ran seamlessly, showcasing remarkable performances and sportsmanship throughout the weekend.

A total of 18 gymnasts represented Newport with pride. Photos of their achievements and positions are shown below.

• Primrose Richards, the youngest competitor, opened the event with a superb all‑around performance on all four apparatus. Sadly, Rebeca Mucenic who was also due to compete in the same round with Primrose was injured in training two weeks prior to the competition and had to withdraw
• Round Two featured dazzling routines from Isla Bastow, Harriet Stanbridge, Alice Ayles, Arden Williams, Lettie Daw‑Evans, Georgina Salijeni, and Millie Rolfe, each delivering artistry and precision.
• Saturday’s final round saw Melanie Dirwai, Everly Hardaker, Skye Hooper, Brooke Arnold, Evie Thorpe, Isla Phillips, and Lydia Porter impress the judges with exceptional skill and composure.
• On Sunday, Avalyn Halford and Keeley Williams competed in the Copper category, both earning outstanding results that spoke for themselves.

For Melanie, Everly, Alice, and Harriet, this was their first GYMSTARS appearance — and they rose to the occasion beautifully. Every gymnast demonstrated dedication, grace, and teamwork, making the Academy immensely proud.

Across all apparatus, floor and beam routines stood out for their artistry and effort, earning well‑deserved recognition from the judges.

✨ Congratulations to all our gymnasts for making this milestone event such a success. It was a weekend of talent, perseverance, and joy — a truly memorable celebration of gymnastics.

We’re thrilled to announce that City of Newport Gymnastic Academy has been invited to host GYMSTARS again next summer!

RESULTS AND PHOTOS OF OUR VERY PROUD CNGA GYMNASTS AT GYMSTARS 2026

PRIMROSE – Vault 5th, Bars 5th, Beam 1st, Floor 1st – overall 3rd place

HARRIET – Vault 4th, Beam 6th

ISLA BASTOW – Vault 2nd, Bars 6th, Beam 5th, Floor 2nd – overall 3rd place

ALICE – Vault 6th

ARDEN – Beam 2nd

LETTIE – Vault 2nd, Bars 5th, Beam 3rd, Floor 4th – overall 2nd place

ROKSANA – Floor 5th

GEORGINA – Bars 5th, Beam 2nd, Floor 5th – overall 5th place

MILLIE – Vault 3rd, Bars 4th, Beam 5th, Floor 3rd – overall 3rd place

MELANIE – Beam 6th, Floor 5th

EVERLY – Bars 6th, Beam 3rd,

SKYE – Beam 5th, Floor 5th

BROOKE – Vault 6th, Bars 5th, Beam 5th

EVIE – Vault 1st, Bars 2nd, Beam 1st, Floor 1st – overall 1st place

ISLA PHILLIPS – Bars 5th, Beam 1st, Floor 1st – overall 2nd place

LYDIA – Vault 3rd, Beam 6th, Floor 4th

AVALYN – Vault 1st, Beam 1st, Floor 4th -overall 5th place

KEELEY – Vault 1st, Bars 1st, Beam 4th, Floor 2nd – overall joint 1st place

We are pleased to confirm that lessons will resume tomorrow with our Artistic Competition Squad. Sessions for all other members will recommence on Monday, 29th June.

Thank you sincerely for your cooperation and understanding during this exceptionally challenging period of hot weather. Your support helps us maintain a safe and positive environment for every gymnast at CNGA.

Important Weather Update – Class Cancellation

Following the latest announcement regarding the extreme weather conditions, we have made the decision to cancel all classes at CNGA this evening in the best interests of everyone’s health and safety.

Both Directors have been on site today and, after assessing the intense temperatures inside the gym, agreed that it would not be safe or appropriate to run sessions.

Please continue to check our website for updates on when classes will resume. We will share further information as soon as it is available.

Thank you for your understanding and support during this period of exceptional weather.

Important Weather Update – Temporary Closure for Safety

The Government has issued a rare red weather warning affecting South Wales. In response, CNGA will close the facility on Wednesday and Thursday to protect the health and safety of all gymnasts, coaches, and families.

All classes scheduled for these two days are cancelled, and the building will remain closed to all users except for essential maintenance taking place on Wednesday morning.

Although our facility is equipped with ceiling fans that circulate cool air across the gymnastics area, this system cannot be relied upon during the extreme heat forecast. While Monday’s sessions ran safely under close supervision, both the Directors and Academy Welfare Team have agreed that conditions on Wednesday and Thursday would make it unsafe to operate.

As mentioned in our earlier communication, CNGA continues to monitor conditions daily throughout this period of exceptional weather. Every decision is made with the wellbeing, safety, and comfort of our gymnasts and staff as the highest priority.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Together, we’ll keep our athletes safe, strong, and thriving.