BATHURST PCYC’s new functional fitness area has received glowing reviews from young people, who put it to the test this week.
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The club hosted a Ninja Warrior competition as part of Bathurst’s Youth Week celebrations.
It was open to young PCYC members aged between 10 and 25 years of age, who spent three days climbing, jumping and swinging their way through the course.
PCYC manager David Hitchick said there were around 40 competitors across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, some coming back more than once.
Qualifying was on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the finals on Thursday.
“The first two days we gave the kids a qualifying time,” Mr Hitchick said.
“Anyone that qualified gave us a time to set the order. The faster times went last [during finals] and made for a really quick finish.”
One of the most impressive feats of the competition was the person who qualified fastest.
“A 10 year old girl was quicker than any of the boys,” Mr Hitchick said.
That fastest qualifier was Nell Griffin, who completed the course with a time of one minute and 50 seconds.
With this particular competition, there were time bonuses for those who made it to the top of the warped wall, while time penalties applied if a competitor couldn’t successfully complete an obstacle.
That format allowed for some really quick times to be recorded during the competition, made even more impressive when considering the course was made more difficult for the finals.
The fastest time in the open category, for those 16 years and older, was Jahziel Iapson, who finished with a time of 1m, 49s.
Nell’s older brother Sam Griffin, 14, won the junior category with a time of 1m, 35s.
Mr Hitchick said all the competitors worked really hard and showed good sportsmanship across the competition.
“It was all really positive. They all cheered for each other and it was a great environment for the competitors,” he said.
The competitors were also really happy with the new space that the PCYC had just finished building, being particular fond of the warped wall, rings and monkey bars.
“There was a lot of feedback, a lot of people calling for us to do more of this,” Mr Hitchick said.
The club plans to offer classes that utilise this space and, after the positive feedback from Ninja Warrior competitors, will look to build on those classes.
“As a result of those classes we think we will hold regular obstacle course competitions for people in those classes,” Mr Hitchick said.
He said the club was really pleased with its decision to build the new space.