A GYMNASTICS expert in York is aiming to somersault her new club to success - and that includes attracting more boys to her sport.

Amanda Marrison set up the Canon Gymnastics Club in January after building up interest via after-school classes

A big response has seen 30 children, all aged between six and 14, sign up. However, only a handful of these are boys.

"It's quite a girl-orientated sport and although it's nice to see that we do have some boys interested, I would like to get more involved," she said.

"We have only four or five boys at the moment, though they are doing really well."

Marrison, 32, was so keen to set up her own club that she gave up her personal assistant job at Excel Logistics in Sherburn-in-Elmet in order to do so, starting the after-school sessions in September.

She has been so overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of youngsters wanting to get involved that she is set to introduce a Monday class and a summer school to add to the initial Thursday session held at Archbishop Holgate's School.

The excellent early response means that she is now looking for sponsorship and donations to improve the club's equipment, in order to offer better training facilities.

"The idea of the club was to give boys and girls of all ages the chance to compete in regional as well as in-house competitions.

"They also gain certificates through badge awards and perform displays and galas for the public," she said.

Originally from Sheffield, Marrison, who now lives in Acomb, moved to York in 1979 via Camberley in Surrey where as a child she first became interested in gymnastics.

She went into coaching from 1994 and - having taught at clubs in Heworth, where she still coaches, Selby and Pickering - has since picked up enough qualifications to coach anyone aged five and above.

"The Canon club is getting new members every week, coming from all over York and the surrounding area," she said.

"They are of all abilities, some coming for fun and recreation, and others at a higher standard who we will enter into regional competitions. We're hoping to get them up to a standard good enough to gain good grades and send them to competitions further afield.

"But we would like help through sponsorship as we lack certain specific equipment which is vital for the boys and girls' training."

All interested in offering sponsorship can contact Amanda on 01904-339069 or 07776-197480.

Updated: 11:49 Saturday, March 03, 2001