Learning for Living and Work student, Ellie Hardy, and her new gymnastics partner, Jessica Wilson, have achieved a Gold medal at the 2025 Leeds Acro Open.

The national open competition held at John Smeaton Leisure Centre, saw both girls excel in acrobatic gymnastics. Ellie and Jessica competed in the Grade Four disability category where they executed a routine involving a mix of dance and balances along with individual skills and tumbles.

Ellie said: “I’m very proud of myself and happy that I achieved a Gold medal. The preparation was hard because I had to train really hard every session and do extra conditioning.

“I am now preparing for the national preliminaries by training hard four times a week and upgrading my balances so that they are worth a higher tariff.”

This achievement adds to Ellie’s previous accolades. In 2024, Ellie was crowned Yorkshire Champion for Grade Four Disability Acrobatic Gymnastics with a former gymnastics partner for the second consecutive year.

Ellie’s mum, Pippa, added: “I am extremely proud of Ellie. There have been a lot of changes since her last competition – new routine, partner, coaches and a new venue for the competition but she took it all in her stride and worked through the anxiety that the changes caused.

“She shows such determination to go out and do her best every single time she goes out on the competition floor despite the difficulties she has to overcome to get there.”

Nicola Thomson-Dewey, Head of the Learning for Living and Work Department at the College, commends Ellie: “Her resilience is just phenomenal. She overcame changes and anxiety to accomplish this feat. What a super star Ellie is.”

To find out more about the Learning for Living and Work courses we offer, visit www.barnsley.ac.uk/lflw, email info@barnsley.c.uk or call 01226 216 123.