A STUDENT from Hartford School of Gymnastics returned home as a gold medal-winner following her debut at a county competition.

Molly Seddon scored highest on floor, and third on vault, to finish first overall in her category (pre-novice nine) at the Cheshire and Merseyside Floor and Vault Championships in Liverpool.

And she wasn’t the only one to claim a title.

Katie Ridge (novice 10) was second on both pieces of apparatus, giving her a higher aggregate total than her rivals.

Hartford’s Mollie Stamper-Clark was fourth in the same section.

Taylor Jackson and Sophie Morrin classified second and third respectively in their class (novice 11), while Grace Haigh (novice 12) took fourth place.

Her vault score was the second best too.

Another first-timer, Eleanor Ma, ranked fourth in the pre-novice 10 category after judges rated her floor routine among the top-three.

Ruby Thomasson (pre-novice 12) completed the club’s contingent at Park Road Sports Centre, finishing fifth.

“It can be daunting for the girls when they go to a competition of that size for the first time,” said coach Michelle Oakes.

“It’s an emotional challenge as much as a physical one, but all of them adapted so well.

“They should be proud of their personal achievements, particularly the five girls that were competing at a new level.”