A BORDERS gymnastics club is going from strength to strength after receiving a £10,000 boost from The Big Lottery Fund.

Having started up in 2011 with just 12 members, PHD FUNdamentals now delivers 15 classes per week in Peebles and Galashiels for 182 members, including 23 enthusiastic attendees at the newly established boy’s classes.

Earlier this month the club had their annual Championships where over 120 children took part. The competition consisted of different age groups for gymnasts from primary one to secondary school.

Each year the gymnast with the highest form score for P1-3, P4-7, secondary gymnastics and trampolining are presented with a shield. This year the recipients were Elise Peebles (P1-3 Gymnastics), Gabrielle Sellar (P4-7 Gymnastics), Sophie Gray (secondary Gymnastics) and Catherine Donkers (trampoline). In addition, all the gymnasts were presented with badges that they had been working on prior to the competition.

Over the past few years Head coach and founder of the club, Lori Lee, has built up a quality coaching team, which includes Live Borders Junior Coach of the Year Millie Turton, whilst successfully applying for grants and funding to improve equipment.

She told us: “We were delighted to have been awarded the grant last year.

“This year at our club championships, we have noticed a remarkable difference within the standard of gymnastics and trampolining.

“Funding has enabled us to purchase better equipment and between that and our passionate coaching team we have been able to offer more classes to the community.”

In addition to bringing on young gymnasts the club train members of the community to complete their coaching courses in return for volunteering hours.

“By doing this we are able to give back to the community as more children can take part in gymnastics and trampolining and learn to love it as much as the enthusiastic coaching team does,” added Lori.

P.H.D FUNdamentals run classes in Peebles and Galashiels at the Gytes Leisure Centre and the Queens Leisure Centre retrospectively.

A waiting list is currently in place, to join email p.h.d.fundamentals@gmail.com or visit http://phdfundamentals.btck.co.uk/.