MORE than 750 gymnasts from across the UK and Ireland helped Carnegie Spartans Gymnastics celebrate its 40th anniversary recently.

The club, whose display team have been running for 25 years this year, hosted a Gymstock festival on 22nd and 23rd March at Carnegie Leisure Centre with around 600 spectators treated to a feast of gymnastics.

Gymstock, which was first held in 1999 and ran annually for three years, showcases the sport with its main theme one of fun for all and the Spartans wanted to share their landmark with other clubs.

Gymnasts from as far south as Middlesbrough, north to Caithness and across the Irish Sea to Dublin took part, ranging in age from five to adults.

Held in the centre's Asda Arena, it was the first event of its kind to be held there since it was refurbished in 2012 and was so successful that the Spartans are hopeful of making it an annual event from next year.

Coach Sheelagh Glover said, "It was a really good weekend and everyone had a brilliant time. It was a real celebration of gymnastics and friendship. We are thinking of putting it on next year because it was such a success and the initial feedback that we have had has been positive. We were looking to show that gymnastics is not just for girls on beams and we had men and women's artistic, freestyle and trampette and vaulting. It couldn't have gone any better." The Spartans were founded by Bob Black, who retains a keen interest in their fortunes, and Sheelagh added, "This is quite a milestone for us to reach and as a local club we've been quite strong. We've had a lot of success - I've seen hundreds of people go through the club and I hope it will continue for a few more years to come!"