Gym club in shock

Press, 5 October 1985, Page 1

Gym club in shock

By

KEVIN TUTTY

This week-end should have been a happy occasion for the Nelson Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium Club. Instead its members were in shock last evening after seven of their number died in the air accident over Tory Channel. Eight gymnasts from the club, accompanied by two coaches and parents, were to compete in the New Zealand junior championships at Lower Hutt today and tomorrow. Devastated by the loss of two families in the tragedy, the club members already in Wellington were prepar-

ing last evening to return to Nelson.

The sole survivor, Cindy Mosey, was one of two gymnasts aboard the flight. Her parents and two sisters were making the trip to watch her compete in the top grade at the championships — a grade she was expected to win. The other gymnast on the flight was Kirsty Grayson, who was accompanied by her parents. Mr Howard Hill, one of the club’s coaches, whq.was due to fly to Wellington last

evening, said the club was shattered by the accident. “We are only a small club but reasonably successful. We do so well because of the strong sense of family belonging. Now we have had two families wiped out. I just haven’t come to terms with it yet.”

The week-end was to be an important one for the club. It has been competing at provincial level for many years under the umbrella of the Wellington Gymnastic Association. After this week-end it was to leave the Wellington association and establish the Nelson Gymnastic Association. Mr Hill said several club

members and supporters had travelled to Wellington bn earlier flights, and he and the final group were to leave Nelson at 7 p.m. for Wellington. “Those in Wellington are so upset that I think they will return home. The children are so upset I don’t think they will be able to compete.” Cindy Mosey is a talented young gymnast. She has won several provincial titles this season, including the Canterbury grade four championship and Mr Hill felt she had the potential to win the New Zealand championship this week-end. She was nmnerriip last year.