Gymnasts from Great Dunmow Primary School flipped their way into the county finals to reach sixth place at the Essex Summer Games on Tuesday, July 2.

Great Dunmow Primary School Gymnastics Squad competed in the Essex County Final of the Key Steps Gymnastics Competition in Basildon and wowed judges with their skills to reach sixth place.

Helen Wicks, who trains the team with two other teachers, said: “It was really exciting because it was a really big event. I think there were 2,000 children there.

“It was done like a mini Olympics with an opening ceremony. I think they [the team] were overwhelmed to be there.

“They handled their nerves really well and they couldn’t have done anymore than they did.”

The young team were given a glimpse of future possibilities when they met Max Whitlock, Brinn Bevan and Jay Thompson, members of the British Gymnastics Squad.

Mrs Wicks added: “It was really inspiring for them to see other people who started out in the same way they have.”

The team of seven; Katie Beer, Phoebe Harris, Henry Davis, Grace Tillbrook, Izabel Krywoszej, Tommy Rose and Jack O’Reilly, train for an hour once a week before school.

Kevin Watts, headteacher at the school, said: “This was a fantastic achievement for the gym team as the pupils who competed are only in years three and four.

“They have been training hard and thoroughly deserved to get through to the finals.”