A quarter-century of inclusive gymnastics ends with a final Poole competition
For more than 25 years, Rossmore Leisure Centre has been a place where disabled gymnasts from across Britain and Europe come to compete, belong and shine. This weekend, that tradition comes to a close — but not without a proper send-off.
The final Poole Disabled Open Gymnastics Competition runs today and tomorrow, 17–18 October, at Rossmore Leisure Centre. Established in 2000, the event was created specifically to give lower-level disability gymnasts a competitive platform at a time when similar opportunities were disappearing elsewhere in the country.
Over the decades it has welcomed competitors from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, as well as international teams. This year's field is particularly international, with gymnasts travelling from Italy, Norway and Germany to take part. In a touching full-circle moment, some of this year's adult competitors first took to the floor here as children.
For residents near Rossmore, expect a busy and celebratory atmosphere around the leisure centre this weekend. Whether or not you have a connection to gymnastics, it is worth knowing that a genuinely significant piece of Poole's sporting history is drawing to a dignified close.
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This article was drafted with AI assistance from public sources and reviewed by an editor before publication.