TEN year old Nikki Pieniazek knows just how important hundredths of a mark are when it comes to winning and second place in gymnastics

Representing Kirkstall Gymnastic Club, the Year 6 pupil from SS Peter and Paul's RC Primary School in Yeadon became the 1998 Yorkshire Novice Under-10/11 Champion by point three of a mark.

As well as winning the Competition Trophy and cup, she also won three gold medals and a silver medal.

In the four piece competition, which took place at Dewsbury Sports Centre and was open to all club gymnasts in Yorkshire, only two points separated the first seven gymnasts in the 10/11 age group.

The competition order was exactly as she had hoped for and her opening piece on the floor scored an excellent 8.825.

This was enough to win her thegold medal, ahead of Lindsay Town (Thornton 8.8) and Sarah Cunnington (Bridlington) and Claire Hall (Sheffield) equal bronze medallists on 8.775.

On vault her score of 9.0 gave her the silver medal, missing out on the gold to Jade Lewinson (St Bede's by .05 of a point.

The bronze medal was won by Sarah Cunnington (Bridlington) with a score of 8.85.

On bars, the piece she was most nervous about, knowing she could not afford to fall off, she performed her best routine ever to record the group's highest score of 8.1 to secure the gold medal.

Silver medal went to Jade Lewinson (St Bedes), 8.05 and bronze to Corinne Ackroyd (Thornton), 7.95. On the final piece, the beam, Nikki came fourth with a score of 8.65.

Gold went to Kelly Dodsworth (Morley) with a score of 9.1, silver to Katy Parker (Bridlington), 8.75 and bronze to Kimberley Clarke (Morley) with 7.8.

Although she just missed out on the medals in the beam, Nikki's score of 34.575 was high enough to win her the Gold medal for her age group .

She also picked up the winners trophy and cup for the overall Yorkshire Novices 10/11 Competition.

Runner up was Jade Lewinson (St Bedes) with 34.275 and third Sarah Cunnington (Bridlington), scoring 33.525.

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