The History of Leatherhead & Dorking Gymnastics Club

1976-1979

1976: The Gymnastic Club was founded by Margaret Miler at Leatherhead Leisure Centre 

1976 - 1980: Established at temporary venue in Epsom.

1980-1989

A permanent home was constructed, making history in England, and success soon followed.

1980: Funding approved for the first purpose built club gymnastics facility in England and Alison Isles & Lilia White become Asymmetric Bars Champion at Wembley.

1981:  First Gymnastics Club to be Registered as a Charity

1981: New facility opens.

1981 - 1986: Club becomes established with young gymnasts becoming members of British Gymnastics under 12 and junior squads.

1982 - 1986: Success at Regional Championships - Team and Individual.

1984: Club became Regional Centre of Excellence - Sports Council Designated.

1987: Club establishes Scholarship link with Manor House School and with C&A Group. First Scholarship holder Emma Webber wins Thames TV Junior Gymnast of the Year at the Wembley Arena.

1987: Vladimir Aksenov joins Leatherhead & Dorking from Moscow Dynamo - milestone appointment to a club in Great Britain - coach to World Olympic Champions

1987: Club gymnasts visit Dynamo Moscow

1988: Sarah Mercer becomes 1st in British Championship as 'Guest'

1989: Sarah Mercer becomes British Women's Champion she goes on to compete at the European Championships - Belgium and World School Games.

1989: Leatherhead & Dorking Gymnastics Club was awarded £500.00 from Telethon.

1990-1999

International competitive success, a new gymnasium is added.

1990: Sarah Mercer - World School Games - Sardinia - Team/Individual Medal.

1991: Sarah Mercer - European Championships - Greece.

1992: Emma Suckling - Selected for the European Championships - Sweden.

1993: Margaret Miler - International (Brevet) Judge Cycle 8 - represented Great Britain in International Competitions.

1993 - 1994: Karin Szymko - British Championships - Bronze Medal.

1993: Club wins Bronze Medal at British Teams Championship.

1994: Karin Szymko - England Commonwealth Games Team Gold Medal. Victoria, Canada and European Championships.

1994: Club opens second gymnasium. Gym 2 Built with (£100,000 Grant Foundation for Sport & the Arts)

1995: Karin Szymko - World Championships Sabae - Japan.

1996:  Margaret Miler British Gymnastics Hon Life Member

1997:  Paul Garber elected Deputy President BG and Member of the UEG(European ) Executive

1997: Katy Lennon - British Espoir Junior Champion - plus three individual titles.

1999: Louise Hill World Student Games Championships.

2000 - 2019

Major extension to the gym facilities is completed and the elite teams see medal success in the Commonwealth Games and British Championships.

2000:   Club Designated BG High Performance Centre

2001 - 2002: Louise Hill - 3 times World Student Games Championships, 3 times British Universities Champion.

2001:   Katy Lennon competes in the World Championships. Sarah McRea - Disabled International in Ireland.

2002:   Katy Lennon - England Commonwealth Games - Manchester - Team Silver Medal. British Championships - Vault - Gold Medal

2003:   Katy Lennon - International Selection - appointed Great Britain Team Captain

2004:   Katy Lennon - British Championships - Silver Medal. Katy Lennon - Olympic Games, Athens - Team Captain - overall finalist finishing in 21st place

2005:   Planning permission granted for Club Extension (Gym 3).

2007:   New Extension Gym 3 Grant Aid Sport England/BG £200,000, MVDC, Surrey PFA, SITA  Club raised £350,000

2007:   Paul Garber Elected President British Gymnastics & Vice President UEG

2007:   New Extension Gym 3.  Grant Aid Sport England/BG £200,000, MVDC, Surrey PFA, SITA. Club raised £350,000

2007:   Paul Garber elected President British Gymnastics & Vice President UEG

2008:   New Gymnasium extension opened at a cost of £750,000

2009:   Margaret Miler awarded Mole Valley Sports Personality of the Year

2014:   Training Centre for BBC “Tumble” Coaches Katherine  and Alberto

2015:   Club Extension Changing Rooms & Facility for disabled

2015:   Margaret Miler  BG South East Presidents Award for Outstanding Contribution to Gymnastics.

2015:   Children with Disabilities Classes –Woodland School

            Classes for Schools for Epsom and Mole Valley

            41 Gymnasts & Coaches attend training camp in Italy (Men's Artistic, Women's artistic and Team Gym)

2016:   CLUB 40^TH  ANNIVERSARY

            National & Regional Team Gym Champions

            6 Gymnasts selected for GB (B Gym) European Team Gym Championships

            Sophie Scott –British Junior Apparatus Champion & Selected BG Junior Squad

            Team Gym International Cup Champions

2017:   TISSERAND sponsor club and Sophie Scott

            Team Gym- 2 British Champion Teams

            Mole Valley” Club of the Year”

            Sophie Scott –English Women’s Champion & selected

            British Gymnastics Senior Squad/International Selection

            BG Adrian Stan Teams Championship (women)- Bronze Medal

            Izzy Hilliard –England Squad and International

            Surrey Choices “Disability Group” Training

            Chelsea Football Club Train at Club

            Coaches selected by BG for gymnastics coaching for disabled at Cranleigh

2018:   The Zone sponsor club General Gymnastics Championship

            Team Gym- 3 British Champion Teams

            5 Gymnasts selected for GB European Team Championships (Portugal)

            Izzy Hilliard selected England v Slovenia

            Club awarded BG “I'M IN” designation Disabilities Training Centre

            Sadie Herbert selected to Judge Commonwealth Games, World & European Champs.

            Boys & Girls attend International Training Camp Portugal

            BG Adrian Stan British Teams (women)-Bronze Medal

2019:   Planning Permission for Gym 4 (facility for disabled, general & elite gymnasts) with funding support by London Marathon Charitable Trust