SOUTH Essex Gymnastics Club rounded off a successful 2016 with one of the best-ever Gymnanzas and a sold out Circus Display.

Rio 2016 Olympic heroes Brinn Bevan and Max Whitlock MBE - who notched Team GB’s first ever gymnastics gold medal at an Olympic Games - were also in attendance and performed in front of a packed audience.

Bevan and Whitlock mounted the pommel horse and p-bars in Gymnanza finale at the Basildon Sport Village.

With the recent success of the Team GB duo, it was fitting that the theme for this year’s Gymnanza was Best of British.

South Essex’s up-and-coming gymnasts also performed and certainly impressed the local gymnastics fans watching on.

The Best of British themed show was closed with a routine set to Take That’s pop hit Never Forget.

The routine saw the club’s hardworking coaches and gymnasts come together to showcase their brilliant talents.

Events manager Cara Noble said: “It was a really nice way to close the show and the song was very apt as we have all come a long way as a group and work so hard as a team to make the club a success.

“And the Gymnanza was a big success overall with lots of excellent displays.

“We got some great feedback and some parents said it was one of the best shows we have done.”

The Circus Display, which took place in the South Essex Gymnastics Club’s smaller gym, was equally well received.

The club’s circus programme started one-and-a-half years ago - in July 2015 - and has been a great success since.

A small Circus Display was put on last year, but the club took 2016’s display to another level.

About 100 spectators were in attendance to see the latest performances and it provided a better forum to showcase skills.

Individuals were tasked with putting on three-and-a-half minute performances and there were also group displays featuring up to 12 performers at a time.

A join routine was performed by the club’s circus skills coaches Becky Moss, Becky Humphries, Erika Schwartz Poole and Noble, who also organised the successful Gymnanza event.

Noble added: “We had about 30 or 35 performers from our beginners through to our more advanced gymnasts.

“It was good to arrange something with that many spectators too and it showed the great progress we have made with the circus programme over the past 18 months.”