ORGANISERS have issued a desperate plea for more facilities as the waiting list for Oxford’s only gymnastics club now includes 575 families.

About 1,000 children are facing an average wait of three to four years to join Cherwell Gymnastics Club, with one eager mum registering her baby at just six weeks old.

Catering for 200 youngsters from the age of five upwards, the volunteer-run group based at The Cherwell School cannot take on more children at its current location.

Chairwoman Hazel Walsh said: “The youngest we have had put on the list was six weeks old. That was about a year ago.

“It is really sad. We also have children in the club that want to do more. You never want to turn a child away from any sport.”

Former Cherwell School pupil Mrs Walsh, now 36, joined the club aged seven.

Since then the club has been hosted by the former Bishop Kirk school, Oxford, and Berinsfield Primary School, returning to Cherwell about eight years ago.

Members usually attend one session a week, with a small squad meeting more frequently to practise for competitions.

For the first time in its 35-year history, the club is working with Oxford City Council to try to secure more than one venue.

Key problems with increasing capacity are finding coaches, who take a long time to train, and an alternate venue to the Cherwell School, in North Oxford, where the club is constrained by opening hours.

In the meantime, the club is working to keep members motivated.

Newly-retired double Olympic gymnast Hannah Whelan, who has also won medals at European events and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, paid a visit to the gym on Monday to offer her support.

Mrs Walsh said: “It was absolutely brilliant. She gave the girls tips and brought along her leotards from the Olympics. It was lovely to see the girls inspired.”

One youngster keen to meet the Stockport-born star was eight-year-old Natascha Lloyd-Williams, who has attended the club with sister Alexandra for the past two years.

Mum Daniela said: “I put their names down when they were about four. The waiting list is huge. I was quite lucky.

“I remember looking around when my kids were small and there wasn’t anything. There’s lots in small villages, so why not in Oxford?

“Natascha really loves it. When she started she couldn’t do a cartwheel, and now she can do a cartwheel on a beam. It has been wonderful to watch her grow.”

Mrs Walsh added gymnastics was not only a good form of exercise for children, but a highly accessible one. About 21 per cent of children in Oxford are classed as overweight, two per cent above the national average.

She said: “It’s about variety and choice. Gymnastics is really good for a lot of things other sports don’t do – flexibility, agility and balance.”

* For more information about the club visit cherwellgym.co.uk