BOLTON Trampoline Club has hosted a visit from the personal coach of Rio Olympics silver medallist Bryony Page.

Paul Graves' visit was organised as a way of saying thank-you to club members, and their parents and guardians, for supporting the Farnworth-based outfit during lockdown.

It caters for members from pre-school age through to their 50s, with sessions varying from recreational to competitive training.

Paul visited the club and gave talks to coaches and some of the members.

Chair Karen McCurdy said: “One reason behind the visit was the professional development of the coaches, who were unable to train during lockdown so Paul worked with them to improve their coaching.

“He also did sessions with some of our members from all the different age ranges. He showed them how to do the basic moves really well rather than introducing more complicated techniques.

“Paul spoke about coaching Bryony and what it was like going to Rio. Bryony is 30 so it was good to hear how you don’t have to have been into trampolining from a young age to succeed.

“We organised the session as a way of saying thank-you to everyone who’s kept supporting us during lockdown.

“They all enjoyed the sessions, and a lot of the parents said their kids were buzzing afterwards.”

Bryony has just been selected for the Tokyo 2021 squad.

The club was able to open in May and kept going throughout lockdown thanks to member payments and local authority grants.

Karen added: “We are a not-for-profit organisation so any money we make goes back into the club.

“One thing Paul did say was how great he thought our club was. He usual coaches at a state-of-the-art venue in Sheffield but he said he’d trade that all in for a club like ours.

“It’s a great atmosphere here. People join and stay with us for years.”