London 2012 hopefuls visit Sporting Village site

Two London 2012 Olympic hopefuls from South Essex Gymnastics club have visited the site of the Basildon Sporting Village, which will become their new home when it opens in April 2011.

Reiss Beckford and Max Whitlock visited the site following their incredible success at the Junior European Gymnastics Championship in Birmingham where they won 6 medals between them.

The highlight for Max was being crowned European Champion on both Pommel and Floor, and Reiss also had a fantastic competition to win bronze on both the High Bar and Rings.  Thye also helped GB achieve gold in the team championship, and Max also secured a silver in the all rounds.

The Sporting Village, opening in April 2011 will include a new 1365 square metre regional gymnastics centre and 400 square metre training hall that will be the new home of the South Essex Gymnastics Club, who are moving to the facility from their current Cranes Farm Road location.

The Sporting Village will also include the first 50 metre swimming pool in Essex and provide facilities for a wide range of sports, including athletics, gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, badminton, netball, basketball, and 5 a side football.  It will also boast a large sports hall, fitness centre, multi purpose studio and climbing wall.   

Other facilities include six floodlit five-a-side artificial pitches, meeting and function rooms, a café and car parking.

Matt Jackson, a coach at the South Essex Gymnastics Club says:  "We cannot wait for the Basildon Sporting Village to become our home in April 2011.  Not only will we be able to give better facilities to our 1800 members, but attract many more, from pre-school children, right through to potential Olympians.  We cannot wait to get in there."