Cuppers 2009
28 November 2009
Ley's Sports Centre, Cambridge
Downing College's Asha Bayliss won her first Cambridge trampolining cuppers elite trophy, narrowly beating Gonville & Caius's Kate Bramall in a closely contested final. Both girls completed identical 6.5 DD voluntary routines, but Asha's marginally better execution scores made the difference.
Speaking at the press conference immediately after her victory, and clutching her proprietary milk chocolate trophy, Asha's excitement was undeniable. 'This trophy will take pride of place on my mantle piece', she said. 'Winning nationals was fantastic, but I'm so relieved that all my training this term has finally resulted in a cuppers victory.' Unable to be interrupted, she continued, 'there are times during the pre-season when I question my motivation to continue in this sport. Hour after hour of drills and strength and conditioning work make it very difficult to see the glimmer of chocolate at the end of the long dark tunnel, but to stand atop the cuppers dias, I know that when the time comes to finally step off this crazy merry-go-round of a sport, I'll be able to walk away with no regrets and my head held high.'
Kate was similarly thrilled to have come so close to winning, and knows it is only a matter of time before she will be able to bring home the chocolate.
The competition started with the novice routines, where veteran novice Barry Bryce edged out Downing's Sarah Smart by 0.3 points. Zanna Szlachta, competing in her first tramponline competition, came 3rd.
The intermediate category was won by Stephen Flexer, beginning what would be a Selwyn domination of the team competition. Flexer won by 0.4 points, thanks mostly to his degree of difficulty advantage. Jenny Murdoch of Queens' and Adina Gamse of Trinity College filled the minor places.
Club president, Brioney Gee, won the advanced category by 9.1 points. Daylight second, followed by the dynamic Selwyn duo of Aislinn Brown and Rose Crossgrove. Returning to the club after her stint as a neutral varsity judge, Lottie Pocock was disappointed by her failure to collect a chocolate orange, but confident that she will be ready in time for BUCS finals.
The assembled crowd held their collective breath as it was announced that Selwyn was the victorious college, although the fact that it was the only college to produce a full team took a slight edge off the excitment. Downing and Jesus, the only other colleges to field more than 1 competitor, were second and third.
