IT'S been a year of ups and downs for the Bermuda Gymnastics Association.

Buoyed by a strong showing in the Small Island Games in Guernsey which saw Bermuda pick up a host of medals, the association was then hit by the shock resignation of coach Walid Mustafa, who has been at the helm for the last decade.

However BGA President Scott King is delighted to welcome back former coach Tina Billington who will lead the nation's athletes at the Sweetheart meet in North Carolina next month.

She returns with plenty of experience gained in England and is ready to take the step up enthuses King.

Although he is sorry to see Mustafa leave, the association boasts many fine and popular coaches.

"Tina had worked for us for two years and left last summer to pursue opportunities in England. When Walid dropped the bombshell that he was getting married and moving to North Carolina we called Tina who will assist full time.

"We are thrilled she's back, the girls love her. She's got a huge advantage."

The association also welcomes back popular coach Michelle Strenk from maternity leave while Melissa Bigsby continues to assist with the recreational programme.

"We have really good coaches, there's nobody I am worried about."

Around 800 children take part in the programme, swelling to more than 1,000 in the summer.

At the peak there are up to 25 children in the national team, ranging from seven to 14.

"A lot of girls went to the Small Island Games and they are still very strong. Bermuda did very well, we are very pleased."

It was a particularly good showing considering another Bermuda team was simultaneously in the US IAGC national competition in Orlando.

"We were a little bit stretched but the kids were great. We acquitted ourselves very well.

"We had gold and silver medals, seven or eight in total."

King praised Jon Beard for his role in organising Bermuda's participation in the Small Island Games. "He deserves all the accolades for the kind of work he puts in."

Now it is all eyes on the upcoming "Sweetheart" meet in Raleigh, North Carolina in February, the first of the year. The team will head out on the 12th and return on the 16th.

Two coaches aided by parents will take out 17 girls who will battle it out against clubs from the US as well as see college teams in action.

Strenk said: "We are the only foreign country. Last year we ended up in a snow storm but we took second place as a team.

"This year we are hoping to get some individual as well as team awards. But this time it's bigger so we will have to see. I am quite excited about it. We hope to come home with lots of clanging medals.

"One of the things we want to do at these meets is expose our athletes to sport at a higher level."

Some of them see the chance of a college scholarship, like Lea Watson who got into Brown University in Rhode Island. "Everyone wants to win the Lotto in that regard."

But its a hard road ahead said King.

"It's a really, really difficult sport. It's about kids who have a burning desire to be in it."

Children who have come through the programme have picked up mental strengths as well as increased their physical prowess notes King.

"They learn to be focused. They know they have to get their homework done so they can to go to the gym."

These good habits will carry on into later life believes King. He admits the sport is not as an obvious option for many although he hopes more give it a go.

The association runs moms and tots tumbling classes at venues across the Island, with day care facilities.

Children between seven and eight get into trampolining, handstands and cart wheels, as well as group work.

"I don't think they always do this stuff at school," said King. "They don't always have the resources."

There is a large recreation programme centred around Whitney.

"It's incredibly important to the BGA in terms of building a base and interest in the sport," said King.

Older children selected for the national team then move to the base at the National Training Centre in Southside where the programme gets a little bit more intensive. It runs four nights a week and again on Saturdays.

"Five years later those in the programme are very fit and they are very focussed on their studies. The habits they learn in the years between eight and 14 will last for the rest of their life."

He has seen the affect it has had on his own daughter aged 12.

"I can't get my daughter away from the gym. The other night the Causeway looked iffy she was in the car wanting to go."

At the younger ages a fair number of boys take part in the programme but at competition level girls predominate.

But there is a strong initial programme for young boys at Whitney and the BGA hopes to expand that side of it.

"We are very open to future boys competitions."

To find out more call association on 295 0589.