Joe bounds to bronze medal at nationals (From Echo)

Joe bounds to bronze medal at nationals

5:00pm Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Sport By Paul Alton

JOE Harris underlined his potential by winning a bronze medal at the 2012 National Trampoline Championships.

The 12-year-old King John School pupil only competed at his first national gala in March.

Having missed the first competition of the season, he competed well but struggled to deliver his best in a much higher grade of opposition.

But Joe’s remarkable rise through the grades continued as he applied the experienced of March’s gala when he competed at the nationals in Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena.

He led the competition after this set routine and was placed fourth ager his voluntary, where he overcame a small wobble to register great form scores.

His degree of difficulty was 6.8 while other boys were competing up to 8.2, which added additional pressure to deliver strong form marks to make up the difference.

He won his place in Sunday’s final and needed a strong routine to move from fourth and earn a medal place.

On Sunday he delivered a superb routine in front of a capacity crowd and earned himself the bronze medal for third place. Coach Graham Parker was delighted with Joe’s performance at his first national championships.

“This is a remarkable achievement for someone who one year ago was competing at the lower regional grades and is a tribute to his efforts in training,” said Parker.

“Joe’s training is so focused towards his performance quality and it was soon obvious that even though he was only aged 12 in the under-15s he was going to give the bigger boys strong competition.”

Joe trains at Basildon Trampoline Club based at Basildon Sporting Village and Parker also thanked staff at Thundersley’s King John for their support in the week before the championships.

“Together, everyone made it possible for Joe to stand on the winners’ rostrum and to be very proud of his first year of competition,” Parker added.

“Basildon Trampoline Club was provided essential funds for competitive equipment by The Big Society Fund and we hope Joe’s success is recognised as being supported by public funds.”