Cooke & Arkwright

Gym will fix it

24/02/2010

Acting on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, Cooke & Arkwright has let 5,500 sq ft at Western Business Centre, Cardiff, to Capital Academy of Gymnastics and Dance.  The Academy is one of the premier full-time gymnastics facilities in the country, fitted with the latest gymnastics equipment and offering a variety of activities to suit all ages and abilities from crawling to adulthood. 

Activities include Artistic Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Street Dance/Cheer, Pre-school Gymnastics, General Gymnastics and Adult Exercise.  Within the first three weeks of opening, over 130 children have enrolled to attend classes at the Academy.

Capital Gymnastics was previously located for one and a half years at the Star Leisure Centre in Splott, but founder Rebecca Hosken said that they had outgrown the centre and needed their own premises so that they could offer full-time facilities seven days a week.  “We have been delighted with the response and attendance at our new centre,” said Miss Hosken.  “We have had lots of people from the north and west of the Cardiff area coming along and have received a special interest from the under five year olds, as other facilities don’t accommodate that age group.”

Owners, Miss Hosken and Mrs Alyson Gauregui are ex gymnasts who trained in Barry.  Miss Hosken started coaching when she was just 13 years old and Mrs Gauregui represented Wales at both junior and senior level and Great Britain including the World Student Games.  As well as coaching themselves, they have eight more coaches to cover the wide range of gymnastic and dance activities on offer, and between them boast over 55 years’ experience.  Four of their star gymnasts have been selected over the past year to join the Welsh Development Squad which trains at the Welsh Institute of Sport at Sophia Gardens, with the potential to go on to represent the country.

One of the most popular activities has proved to be the Street Cheer & Street Dance.  These classes are taught by Jessica Hosken, Rebecca’s sister, a choreographer and dancer who trained at the London Studio Centre.  “Street Cheer is a unique fusion of Street Dance and Cheerleading moves,” said Mrs Gauregui.  “It’s aimed at children aged 9 to 12 years and involves funky and up-to-date dance moves combined with chants and cheers.  Street Dance classes have a stronger bias towards dance, but retain the funkiest dance moves in a fusion of urban beats and style.  These classes are offered to children from 5 years upwards.”

Jeremy Symons of Cooke & Arkwright, who acted on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government in the deal commented, “We have had a good response from local businesses for units within the Estate and we are pleased to welcome Rebecca and Alyson.  The increased activity on the Estate will improve its profile, which in turn will create further employment when the vacant units are occupied.”

Capital Academy of Gymnastics and Dance was sponsored with a £20,000 grant by Building and Property Services company, Tremorfa, which was matched by a £20,000 grant from the Sports Council for Wales under its ‘Sports Match’ funding scheme.

Pictured: Jeremy Symons, Cooke & Arkwright and Rebecca Hoskins, Capital Academy of Gymnastics and Dance, with the girls from the Welsh Squad

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