FROM a homespun and somewhat humble venue In Thurrock, a group of youngsters with roots from across the world are coming together to showcase their athletic and dance talents.

The kids are members of Essex Elite Gymnastics Club, which has a base in the Church Hall of Saint Peter and Saint Paul's in the heart of Grays on West Street.

Youngsters aged from four to 15 showcase their talents in performance display, rather than competitive action on the floor and apparatus with but nevertheless are at the peak of their hobby. 

Acrobatic gymnastics is a discipline of partnerships of gymnasts work together and perform routines consisting of acrobatic skills, dance and tumbling, set to music.

Essex Elite Gymnastics Club used to compete, but is now concentrating of entertainment performances, putting on shows and displays at theatres or other venues in a non-competitive environment. EEGC is a unique club, offering shows and performances in a theatre setting allowing the gymnasts to showcase their talent.

Guided and motivated by former top competitive gymnast Rebecca (Becky) Mallas and coaches Jade Kiley and Lilly Bradley, the youngsters train through the week on three evenings after school at the church hall for hourly sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays where they undergo a range of activities combining recreational gymnastics, development and 'mini-elite' expectations. 

A poster for a gymnastics club

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The teenie-elites are a recent and popular addition to the classes offered by the club.

Fees are charged at a rate of £5 per hour, per gymnast for all classes.

​Becky and her coaching team of Jade and Lilly, backed by assistant helpers Skyla-Mae Bonnick-Durand, Ines Gala, Stella Gasiunaite and Robyn Boosey, have more than 20 years of experience within acrobatic gymnastics.

Becky describes her coaches as and gymnasts as 'incredible and explains how it all started, pre-covid.

She says: "It started a few years back, just before covid started and it's an incredible little club which is welcoming and inclusive.

"The standards of our gymnastics is extremely high, we may be a relatively newly established club, but we have over 20 years of experience within acrobatic gymnastics, both as coaches and gymnasts. 

"Some of our gymnasts train for up to ten hours a week but we also have recreational classes. It's an incredible group featuring young people who were born inThurrock and others whose family backgrounds include Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Nigeria and Thailand. We are multi-national and inclusive.

"We don't have amazing facilities but the standard of our gymnastics is extremely high.

"Our members are really dedicated and they do incredible show every year. We used to compete as a club but what can happen is the gymnasts get to train for months and months for something when they only get two minutes to show their talent in competition.

"So we decided instead of doing competitions where you might only do one thing a year – one routine for just two minutes for which you train all year round – what we would do is hold our own shows, which usually sell out with a couple of minutes, when the gymnasts might do up to ten routines at a time."

The club has now become so popular it is on the verge of outgrowing the facility at the church hall. Becky says it has been a wonderful home for the club and its young people and she has no complaints at all about the help, support and service over the years. Moving on is not a particular preference, but the demand for the club and limitations of space and the style of the hall floor, mean a move at some point in the future could happen.

Becky says: "We have been incredibly happy here and we have been made very welcome but we have come to a position we have outgrown it and the girls need something of an advanced facility now.

"The skills that we are aiming for, and we are currently doing, I would prefer it if we could get a sprung floor so we could really support their training."

Anyone who might be able to help find another venue, is asked to contact Becky.

The club is also not just about putting on shows, it's about building up relationship between young people and encouraging them to be at their best – at whatever level they chose to perform.

And that, in once recent case helped a member battle back from a devastating illness.

She contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own peripheral nerves, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness and lack of movement in the feet and hands.

"She was a member of our elite group and it really affected her quite badly and restricted her ability even to walk. We were able to help with basic physio training and she's back in the group now, relearning her skills and she has become an inspiration to a lot of the girls who come here", said Becky.

Plaudits from the parents of club members are manyfold. One said: "It has brought back the passion to my daughter for acrobatic gymnastics. All the coaches were lovely and so welcoming, while another added "Elite gymnastics is an absolutely fantastic team. They are very welcoming and understanding. If I could give more than 5 stars I would"

Becky concludes: "We run an open and honest environment, and are here to ensure the health and safety of your child whilst in our care, in a fun and active atmosphere. 

"​If you would like your child to join our club, please visit or become a member via our website where there are lots of other details.

 "​We look forward to meeting you all!"

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