Directors
Glen Wharton, Director
Glen Wharton: Director, Head Coach and Junior National Tumbling Coach for Team GB founded the club in October 2016. Glen has produced over 50 GB International performers in his time as a High Performance gymnastics coach, many of which have represented GB at World and European Championships with over 20 World and European medals achieved over the past 10 years. Glen is working hard to put together a strong team of coaches at the club to continue the great run of success at the club.
Vicki Wharton, Director
As well as one of the Directors of the club since it formed in 2016 Vicki is a level 3 coach and has been involved with gymnastics most of her life.
Paula Clayton, Director
Paula has been a director since 2017 and has been around the gymnastics scene for a long time after her daughter had a talent and passion for tumbling. Paula was fortunate to travel around the World watching her daughter represent Team Gb for over a decade winning many World and International medals.
Neale Davies, Director
Neale has been a Director at Durham City since it was founded and got involved with Tumbling when his daughter, Rachel, took up the sport in the mid 2000’s. He began by helping out with club competitions before becoming a club tumbling judge. He is now a National Tumbling Judge and is the NEGA Regional Judging Co-ordinator.
In his day job he is a Geotechnical Engineer and in his spare time he enjoys walking/hiking, cycling and watching rugby.
Heads of Sections
Dan Lannigan, Head of Club Tumbling
Dan oversees all club groups and is lead coach of the age group tumbling groups. Dan's list of achievements are; 3 world championships, 3 european championships, Team Bronze medal 2013 World Championships, World Cup finalist Denmark, 2013. Dan also performed at the opening ceremony London 2012 Olympics, Ovo and Cirque du Soleil
Chloe Davies, Head of General Recreational
When I was younger I loved to do gymnastics. There wasn’t a single day where I wasn’t doing handstands or cartwheels or even teaching my friends how to. The sport provided me with so much joy and I hope I can do the same for others. I am currently the lead of our general recreational classes where I get to help hundreds of children find the same love from the sport as I did. “
Georgia Clayton, Head of Tumbling Recreational
Georgia represented GB at 5 world age championships. She has won 3 world age silver medals and has been British Champion 4 times. Georgia was in the GB squad between 2009-2017.
Steven Gilmore, Head of Trampolining
Steve was a member of the GB team between 2009-2015. He competed at 1 Junior European Championships (St Petersburg), 5 World Championships, 4 World Age(St. Petersburg, Metz, Birmingham, Sofia), 1 Senior World Championships (Daytona). His best results were 2 British Championship titles, 2005 & 2013, 3rd at senior British Championships 2014, Finalist at Europeans, finishing 8th, 9th at World Age and, 19th at Senior Worlds.
Julie Ball, Welfare Officer
- Durham City Gymnastics Club is a significant part of my life. My children have been a part of the club for a number of years and I am in awe of what the gymnasts can do and the coaches can support them to achieve. My employment experience has enabled me to take on the role of the welfare officer and I also undertake the mandatory safeguarding courses required by BG. It is a pleasure to be an active part of the club.
Cheer Section
Chloe Peacock, Head of Cheer
Chloe is our Head Cheerleading Coach. Her achievements as a gymnast are as follows. British Championships - 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st. British Tournament - 1st. Junior Europeans - Team Bronze, 5th. Junior Worlds - 4th Tempo, 5th Overall. International Acro cup 3rd
Hannah Summers, Cheer Section
Hannah coaches our Cheer section. She was the top of a very successful mixed pair. Hannah's achievements include; British Champion, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005; British Tournament Champion, 2001-2005; World Bronze Medalist Balance 2001, 4th overall Team Bronze; World Silver Medalist 2002, Bronze medalist Balance, Bronze Medalist Tempo, Silver Medalist overall/ Combined, Team Bronze; European Bronze Medalist 2002 (balance, Tempo and Overall/ Combined); European Bronze Medalist 2003 (Bronze Medalist balance & Tempo) 4th overall; Team GB representative 2001-2006
Caitlin Owston, Cheer Section
Caitlin is one of our Cheer Coaches. Her achievements include 4* British Champion, 2* Silver Medalist and 1* bronze Medalist, 3rd in Europeans and selected for Senior World Championships.
Kimberley Clark, Cheer Section
Kimberley is one of our Cheer coaches. Kim's achievements are many and varied. Amongst them are;
Jamfest European Champions in Cheerleading,
British Champion in Team Gym,
Tumbling - Senior Age Group Finalist.
Level 2
Shanice Davidson
I am a Level 2 tumbling coach and I have a huge passion for the sport, which I hope to pass on to the younger gymnasts.
The groups i work with are :
- Mini Intermediate
- Age Group Development
- NDP Junior
- Development 1
- Several recreational tumbling classes I have been apart of the GB Tumbling squad since 2011 till present. I am a 2x Senior World Silver Medalist, 2x Junior World Silver Medalist, World Team Champion, World Cup Silver Medalist, Senior European Team Champion, Junior European Team Champion, British Champion and English Champion.
Megan Young, Level 2
I am a former gymnast, I have had experience in competing in tumbling for 7 years and in this time I have had the opportunity to travel to many places. One being Portugal were I managed to bring home a gold medal. Some of my other successes were being selected for the England squad and qualifying for the British championships. I am a qualified level 1&2 tumbling coach, and I am very passionate to be teaching the younger generation.
Level 1
Beth Clayton, Level 1
I have always enjoyed gymnastics and competed myself when I was younger. I now have a full time position as a travel agent but coach the Development group on a Tuesday evening
Meghan Dixon
Meghan has been involved with the club since it was set up and now coaches many of the general gymnastics classes as well as some of the younger club groups
Lauren Husband, Level 1
Lauren coaches our NDP Junior group. Amongst Lauren's achievements are 3rd place at Loule International and 3rd in the British Championships. She is a member of the GB squad and the English squad.
Level 1
Paris Ash, Level 1
Paris helps out with the Age Group Development club group. She has competed in both acro and tumbling. Paris achieved a 4th place in a club international competition when she travelled to Geneva. In Tumbling, Paris has won the regional championships title twice. In 2015 Paris was 4th in the National finals and then in 2016 she came 2nd in Great Britain.
Lewis Westwood, Level 1
Lewis coaches our Ndp Development club group. Lewis's achievements include 2* British Finals, 2016 Loule Cup finalist, GB National Squad selection twice, England squad selection twice, 2nd in ss2 in 2019
Lisa Snee, Level 1
– My daughter is in the club and I got interested in helping out so I attended my first level of coaching and when I passed my level 1 coaching I now help out in the club several times a week and love seeing the children improve their skills.
Reception
Leanne Bowes, Reception
– I worked for Lloyds Bank for 10 years before moving into the care sector, working in a care home. Before joining DCGC, I worked at Northern Power grid as a customer service representative. I joined DCGC as a this was more suitable working hours for my family, and I have never looked back. As receptionist at the gym, I enjoy greeting the children as they embark on their gymnastics journeys.
Tom Reid, Reception
Tom is one of our receptionists. He is also a Trainee Coach. Tom competed in NDPS in 2015 and 2017. He was awarded a Gold Medal in the 2017 NDP Semi-final before moving into age group. In his first age group competition in 2018 he finished 5th in the country.
Harry Wharton, Reception
– I trained as a tumbler when I was younger and reached National finals. I now play football but my gymnastics training has helped me so much in making me a better football player. I enjoy my job as receptionist at DCGC.
Melissa Jackson
Melissa worked for Sainsburys as a team leader for 8 years before joining DCGC. Alongside her receptionist role at the gym, she is also studying social work at Teesside University and has almost finished her second year. Melissa loves greeting the children and seeing them develop and progress.
Assistant Coaches
Katie Nicholas, Volunteer
Katie has only recently joined our coaching team as a volunteer. She assists with AG development and mini group. Amongst Katie's achievements are; Ndp FIG development 15+ 3rd place, 2019. Ndp grade 4 11-12 2nd place 2015. 2* British Display Champions, 2014 & 2015. Acro regional 1st place, 2015 grade 5 Women's pairs.
Lucy Domenegheti
I started cheer when I was about 9 and I think it has really helped my confidence grow as well as learn a lot of new skills. We have been to lots of competitions in different places in England and got a lot of trophies as a team.
Molly Anderson
My name is Molly, and i was a cheerleader for 4 years, on the teams junior level 2 and level 3. Whilst on the team i was team captain in the season 2019-2020 for the team junior level 3, and i was also responsible for giving pep talks before competing and i also did the teams make-up for competitions. My main achievements while on the team were:
- 1st place and being named Grand Champions at ICE (regionals) in 2018
-in 2019, we placed 4th at Jamfest Europe
-also in 2019, we placed 1st and again were named Grand Champions
- again in 2019, at Northern Jam, we placed 1st and were named Grand Champions, and at this competition we were also given a bid to compete at the Summit
-in 2020 we competed at ICE (regionals) and placed 1st
-also in 202 we placed 2nd at Northern Jam and again received a bid to again compete at the Summit.
Sadly, we never got to compete at the international competition the Summit due to reasons like Covid
Lily Wadeley
My name is Lily and i started cheerleading in 2014 and finished in 2020. Within that time I have competed in many competitions as well as being the the cheer captain of junior two 2018-19. Some of my main achievements while at Durham City was placing 1st and being named Grand champions at ICE (regionals) in 2018, we placed 1st again at Northern Jam as well as Grand Champions and receiving a bid to compete at the summit and in 2020 we competed at ICE (regionals) and placed 1stalso in 2020 we placed 2nd at Northern Jam and again received a bid to compete at the summit.
Elisha Yorke
Elisha Yorke - I have competed at regional, national and international level. NDP regional and National champion x2. Placed 6th at Age group British championships and 4th place at Age group English championships. England squad member 2018/19. Competed for Great Britain at the Loule cup in Portugal.
Charlotte Cornish
Charlotte Cornish – I started cheerleading in year 5 and quickly realised she had a passion for the sport. I have been a member of the club since its beginning and my skills have developed as the club has grown. I have competed at a national level, with my most memorable achievements being qualifying twice for ‘The Summit’ in Florida and winning first place at ‘Jamfest Northern Jam’ in
Our team of coaches range from those with many years of experience and success in coaching to those working towards their first coaching qualifications. Most have been, or still are, highly accomplished gymnasts themselves.