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
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.
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 at the London 2012 Olympics, Ovo and Cirque du Soleil
Chloe Davies, Head of Recreational Gymnastics
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.
Steve 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.
Cheer Section
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.
Kim 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, Level 2
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 Medallist, 2x Junior World Silver Medallist, World Team Champion, World Cup Silver Medallist, 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, where 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
Megan Dixon, Level 1
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.
Joely Weston, Level 1
Level 1
Paris Ash, Level 1, Volunteer
Paris helps out with the Age Group Development club group. She has competed in both Acro and Tumbling. Paris achieved 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.
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, Head of Reception
Working for DCGC has been amazing, and I love greeting the children as they come in for their gymnastic classes. Prior to working here, I worked for Lloyds Bank for 10 years and then I went into the care sector, working in a care home. I joined DCGC as more suitable working hours for my family, and I have never looked back. All coaches are fantastic and the talent they all have and pass on to the children is amazing to see.
Cheryl Middleton, Reception
I worked in Communications in the Royal Navy for 14 years, and absolutely loved it. I then worked as a Travel Agent for TUI for 6 years before spending time with my wonderful family. I joined DCGC in September 2021 and have found it amazing to be part of the DCGC family, which has a great balance for me between work and family, and seeing all the amazing talent of all our members.
Assistant Coaches
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, Cheer Section
My name is Molly, 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 2020 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 Covid and lockdown
Katie Nicholas
Katie has 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.
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.