CNGA SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE ZINC AND COPPER FINALS 2026
This weekend marked an unforgettable milestone for five talented CNGA gymnasts as they stepped onto the competition floor at the Welsh Finals — delivering courage, excellence, and true team spirit. Their achievements shine brightly across Wales, and we are immensely proud to celebrate them.
✨ Lily Griffiths – A Remarkable Debut at the Welsh Finals (Age 9, Zinc)
On Saturday, 9‑year‑old Lily Griffiths, a newcomer to City of Newport Gymnastic Academy, made an extraordinary impact at her first Welsh Finals. Lily performed with confidence, elegance, and determination, securing:
- Vault – 5th place
- Bars – 4th place
- Beam – 4th place
- Floor – 5th place
- Overall – 3rd place in Wales
An incredible achievement for her first Finals appearance. Lily also contributed strongly to the 9‑year team, helping them secure the Bronze medal. A superb performance and a well‑deserved podium finish.
✨ Evie Thorpe & Georgina Salijeni – Strength and Team Spirit (Ages 12–13, Zinc)
Next to compete were Evie Thorpe and Georgina Salijeni, representing South East Wales in the 12–13 Zinc category.
Evie Thorpe
Evie delivered polished, composed routines and earned:
- Bars – Bronze medal (3rd)
- Beam – 6th place
A brilliant individual effort — well done, Evie.
Georgina Salijeni
Georgina performed beyond her personal best, showcasing:
- A flowing, confident Bar routine
- A powerful half‑on Vault
- A beautifully choreographed Floor routine
Although she did not place in the top six overall, Georgina’s outstanding effort, combined with Evie’s results, helped their team secure the Bronze medal. A fantastic team achievement.
✨ Lydia Porter – Excellence and Gold for South East Wales (Age 14, Zinc)
In the 14‑year Zinc category, Lydia Porter delivered elegant, controlled routines across all apparatus. While she narrowly missed top‑six placements individually, her consistency and commitment contributed significantly to her team’s success — helping South East Wales secure the Gold medal position. A superb contribution from Lydia.
✨ Avalyn Halford – Medals Across the Board (Copper Champion)
On Sunday, it was the turn of Avalyn Halford, the current South East Copper Champion. Competing in a strong field in her first year of Copper Finals, Avalyn achieved:
- Vault – Silver medal
- Bars – Bronze medal
- Overall – 3rd place in Wales
Avalyn also performed beautiful Beam and Floor routines, and her exceptional contribution helped her team secure the Gold medal position. A phenomenal achievement.
