Cleveland Air Magic has again reaffirmed Redlands as home for top notch jump rope teams with a strong performance at the 2017 rope skipping National Championships held at the Carrara Indoor Sports Complex, Nerang earlier this year.
The club took three teams in a 12-14 female team (Jemma Bihari, Amy Grimes, Erin Aspinall, Ayla Harmer, Naomi Tucker), Open female team (Belinda Charlesworth, Tamison Lees, Maddie Brennan, Baylie Stariha, Makella Hoad) and an Open Mixed team (Luke Boon, Lilly Barker, Ben Cooper, Jake Eve, Jackie Robba) who all qualified in overall first position to represent Australia at the 2018 World Championships in Shanghai, China on July 24 to August 2.
During the competition the four open mixed team members broke several national records and two world records.
Luke Boon, Lilly barker, Jake Eve and Ben Cooper broke the 4x45 second Double Dutch speed relay World record with a score of 633 skips and Luke Boon broke the open male consecutive triple under world record with an amazing score of 530.
The club also experienced great success with many members qualifying individually. Luke Boon, Lilly Barker and Jemma Bihari were all crowned National champions and consequently have qualified first in their age groups to represent Australia.
Cleveland Air Magic will also send other top three recipients Ben Cooper, Jake Eve, Tamison Lees, Belinda Charlesworth, Makella Hoad, Baylie Stariha, Ayla Harmer and Erin Aspinall.
The club will be defending their sixth consecutive Open Mixed Team World title as well as returning to contest their sixth consecutive top three individual rankings in the Open Male and fourth consecutive top three individual rankings in the Open Female divisions. Cleveland Air Magic has also qualified as the team to represent Australia for the World Cup (group display) where they have previously placed in the top three at five World Championship events.
Head Coach Carolyn Barker is excited about the upcoming challenge of competing against countries such as China, Hong Kong and Belgium that have also begun their rigorous training schedule in preparation for the 2018 World Rope Skipping Championships.
The Redlands has always been a powerful influence in Australia Rope Skipping. Coach Taryn Hodgson from Hot Shots Mount Cotton will be attending her 6th World Championships. The Hot Shots will be defending their world title in the 12-14 age group with members (Holly Jones, Kirra Hamson, Telea Annetts, Bethany Lakeman, Iyla King) and for the first time send a 12-14 mixed team (Ella Robson, Jai Jackson, Leilani Jackson, Ella Stawicki). Jessie Bowdler and Laura Downey from the Hot Shots have also joined interstate teams to represent Australia in the Shanghai International Open.
Bayside Skippers coached by Neena Ingerman and Brigette Logan have also experienced great success with 2 members (Nadia Ingerman & Alexis Collum) qualifying for component events and a 15+ female team (Nadia Ingerman, Alexis Collum, Maddie Meadwell, Emma Jackson, Trinity North) who will compete in the Shanghai International Open.
Competitors from the Northern Territory, New South Wales and ACT will also join the Queensland skippers to form the biggest team that Australia has ever sent to a World titles.
