RESULTS of COMPETITION

Please forgive us for not updating the blog daily ~ it is almost impossible given our very busy schedule! Suffice to say.....finding a few minutes to upload pictures and post to the blog have only occurred very, very late at night and we are exhausted!!
BUT...............................the competition was fantastic!! We formed 4 teams comprised of the gymnasts from 3 South African clubs and the Silvia's gymnasts. The teams were coached by coaches from each of the perspective gymnastics clubs. The teams were:
Phillies, Golden Lion, Johannesburg Gymnastics Club and Silvia's. The gymnasts who competed using the FIG code of points were eligible for all around awards.
The winning teams:
1st place: Golden Lions
2nd place: Phillies
Tie for 3rd: JGC and Silvia's.

The gymnasts who competing using the FIG code of points placed in the following order:
9th - Katie Sassa
8th - Erin Conboy
7th - Rachel Stypinski

The all-around champion of the South African Gymnastics Competition with a total FIG score of 54.75, our very own:

ASHLEY RODENBERGER

CONGRATULATONS, ASHLEY and all the gymnasts for an outstanding competition!!

Monday's activities

Monday, November 24, 2008
The gymnasts had their first training at Johannesburg Gymnastics Center bright an early in the morning! The parents enjoyed a number of different activites with their individual host families, which included shopping, museums and driving around the Johannesburg suburbs.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

We were hosted by Wessel and our host families at the Lion and Rhino Reserve where we spent quality time petting and playing with the baby lion cubs! Mr. Rob raced a cheetah - he claimed the cheetah cheated!!!! Can you guess who won???? Miss Silvia sported a lovely snake around her neck, while the gymnasts worried for their coach! We all enjoyed a South African braai, which is a barb-b-que. We ate sausage, lamb, steak and all the fixin's cooked over an open fire! Enjoy a few pictures!!

Alexa Lord petting the cheetah that out raced her dad!!

Miss Silvia wearing a lovely snake!

Rhino's up close!!!

Monday's Mercury

Check out Monday's Mercury. Full page of Silvia's South Africa team. Very impressive!! Way to go girls!!!

SILIVIA'S IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!

WE MADE IT!!!! After two very long days of traveling and a 2-hour delay in Amsterdam we arrived in Johannesburg much later than expected on Saturday night!! We spent close to one hour going through customs and picking up our luggage when we were finally escorted through the airport into the welcoming arms of our host families!!! It was so good to put faces to the emails we have been exchanging the last few weeks! Enjoy a few pictures of our travels, so far!! Post your comments fellow travelers!!!

Gymnasts at the airport in South Africa!

On their Way

They are finally all their way.  Left the Gym at 11:30 am on a chilly morning. All were in high spirits.  Arrived at JFK airport at approx. 3:00pm

The Countdown Begins

It is hard to believe this time next weekend we will be in South Africa! After all the months of planning and preparation....the dream is starting to becoming a reality!! WOW!!