Founded by Ernie Cookson in 1974, Deeside Gymnastics Academy has provided the local community with high quality gymnastics for over 50 years. In 2021 we opened North Wales' largest purpose built gymnastics facility and were named Welsh Gymnastics Club of the Year. 

We strongly believe all children should try gymnastics. It is considered a 'foundation sport' - a base for discovery and development in young people. It is not only a fantastic way to stay active but builds fundamental skills and healthy habits to last a lifetime. Our large recreational programme aims to increase participation in our incredible sport, with a wide variety of classes and reduced waiting lists.

 

The story of Deeside Gymnastics Club began when Ernie and his team of gymnasts and trampolinists were invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the Deeside Leisure Centre in 1973, when The Duke of Edinburgh came to officially open the Centre.

Over the years Deeside Gymnastics has produced North Wales, Welsh, British, World Age Group and European Medalists in various disciplines including Women's Artistic, Sports Acrobatics and Tumbling Gymnastics. However we are most proud of providing quality gymnastics classes for hundreds children in our local community and beyond. Not every gymnast will become a British champion, but they will all remember the experiences they share at our club and will carry the skills it builds with them forever.

 

After many years of training in the leisure centres sports hall the club finally secured premises to open its own dedicated facility.  In July 2017, the doors were opened to our new home and we officially became 'Deeside Gymnastics Academy'.

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As the pandemic hit in March 2020 we closed our doors and began to train our gymnasts via zoom calls. Being based at the Deeside Leisure Centre we soon found out that our gym would become a rainbow hospital. We had to empty our unit and put all our equipment in storage. 

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As devastated as we were to lose our home, we knew it was for a great cause and were really happy to help our community. The search for a new premises quickly began and later in the year we secured a 16,000sqft unit on the aviation park at Airbus in Broughton.

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Our coaches and fundraising team worked extremely hard to raise money and began to get our new building ready. We trained our competitive gymnasts in a small temporary unit on Queensferry industrial estate for 10 months in between lockdowns. After over a year of hard work and dedication from everyone involved, we finally opened our new gymnastics centre in June 2021. 

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Since then we have continued to grow. We now have more classes, gymnasts and staff members than ever before. We are proud to still be producing North Wales, Welsh and British champions every year in Women's Artistic and tumbling gymnastics. We have multiple members of Welsh and North Wales squads and a growing number of gymnasts qualifying to represent their country every year.

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We celebrated our 50th year in 2024 with our biggest show ever. Hundreds of parents, family members and past members of Deeside gymnastics came to watch and celebrate with us. It was a very special event and we were extremely proud to commemorate the achievement with our founders Ernie and Joy. What a 50 years it has been and here's to 50 more.

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