In June 2002 when Zoe, Katrina and I were training, Vivien asked us if we wanted to represent Great Britain and go to the World Gymnaestrada in Portugal. I wasn't sure what it was at the time but Viv soon explained.

The World Gymnaestrada is where countries from all over the world put forward Gymnastics display teams for a massive festival of Gymnastic displays lasting a whole week. A bit like Gymfest but on a much bigger scale. This was going to be an opportunity never to be missed as we never knew if or when we would get a chance to represent Britain again.

Great Britain were to have quite a few teams in such as Bromley, Heathrow and Spartac but we were to be part of a bigger team, which was to be made up from gymnasts all over Britain. We were also going to get a chance to put on our own wee Scottish routine which included just Zoe, Katrina and myself and we were supposed to be performing in a shopping centre. Our parents had to start saving because it was very expensive.

We had to train down south in Leeds, Luton and other places where we could get all the gymnasts together.

When we went to Leeds we all had to stay with girls from Leeds Gymnastics Club. The girl I stayed with was called Leah and we had great fun. We watched videos and in the morning Leah had Gymnastics so I went to watch. When she finished training she gave me a t-shirt and a sweatshirt with “Leeds Gymnastics Club” written on them. She gave me one for Zoe and Katrina as well.

The year quickly passed by and we were eventually all kitted out ready for the trip. We had been given bags, tracksuits, polo shirts, towels, caps and had been saving up some of our own souvenirs to take with us to swap with other countries.

On 19th July we had to go to the airport. We had to wear our new Great Britain tracksuits with matching Great Britain caps. As you can see from the picture, we were all happy and proud and looking forward to the trip.

Katrina, Zoe, Vivien and myself at Edinburgh Airport, about to leave for London

Claire, Zoe and Katrina catching up with some food before leaving Edinburgh

It was time to leave our families and fly to Heathrow were we would meet up with gymnasts from Heathrow Gymnastics Club and travel to Portugal with them.

We arrived in Portugal at 11o'clock at night. We had to wait in the airport for about an hour, then we finally got a taxi to the place we were staying but the taxi driver got lost and started going around in circles. We finally arrived but then there were no adults because they had all gone out drinking for the night so we didn't know where we were supposed to be sleeping. I think Vivien could have done with a wee brandy but she stayed with us to make sure we were behaving.

This team asked us if we were the Scottish girls and said that we were supposed to be sleeping in their room. We had to sleep on the floor in our sleeping bags which wasn’t very comfy.

The next morning we got up around 9 -10 o'clock and had breakfast. Then we had a practice of our big group routine. It was very long and it was really hot because we were practising outside in the sun.

After we had finished we had to catch the tube to the stadium for the Opening Ceremony, but we had no idea that it was up a huge hill and about 3 miles away.

It was really hot and we had nothing to drink or eat. When we finally arrived we started looking for some place that sold water and something to drink. We found somewhere that sold it but it was really expensive.

 It was ages until the ceremony started so we just sat around and waited until we all had to line up in our countries. When we went in the stadium there were lots of people. It took ages to get everybody in because there were about 25,000 people, which is more than they get for the Olympics. Then we all got told to sit in the seats and watch the performance, which was really good. They had people flying everywhere and loads of gymnastics and dance. We had to leave early because we wouldn't have got on our tube and we had to walk all the way down the hill.
 

On the Monday we had to go to the University to do our big Great Britain display. We had to wear these orange leotards that had a little star on them, orange trousers and white trainers. We did our display and it went really well. One of Vivien’s friends videoed it and it looked really good.

When we got home Zoe, Katrina and I went outside to practice our "haggis, neaps and tatties" routine. Oh, by the way Viv called us that after she had heard my dad calling me haggis heed one day. It fitted in well and she called herself “The wee dram" as she likes to have one or two now and then. This is the routine we were to perform in the shopping centre.

On the Tuesday, we went to the big event where everyone done there own wee displays. We watched a lot of them and they were really good and had really good dance and moves in them. After that, we went for lunch but it was so crowded and the food was horrible. Then we went to see if we could get tickets to see the Swedish night because Viv said that she seen it the last time and it was brilliant. We got tickets to see the show and it was amazing - all the effects were really good. After the show Katrina and I were hungry so we went to the take away just down the road from where we were staying.

On the Wednesday we had to go to a big shopping centre where we were going to perform our "haggis, neeps and tatties" routine. But when we were on the tube I wasn't holding on properly and the tube stopped and I grabbed the handle and hurt my wrist. So then we had to change the routine. The routine went well and it was good fun performing in this centre with lots of people all crowded round on different floors watching down at us. After the routine, we watched it on Viv's camera and it looked great. That night, we just had a quiet night in so that I could rest my wrist.

On the Thursday, we went back to the university to do our big altogether routine but because I hurt my wrist I hurt it even more doing the routine. I had to go to the medical room after the display.

After we had been and done our routine we went back to where the big event was and went to get some lunch at Mickey D’s (McDonalds). Then we went to see the physio about my wrist. He said that I was to rest it and it would get better. Viv really liked him and said he looked really nice. I think she fancied him and would have chatted him up if we weren’t there.

Then we watched some more routines. Then we went to a workshop that showed you how to go on the German wheels. German wheels are like really big wheels that you can stand in. They showed us how to do it and then asked if anyone wanted to try. We all put our hands up but when the coach came to us he said that the tallest person should go because they didn’t have any smaller wheels. I got to go on it. It was really fun - I got to go upside down on it and sit on it and other things. It was a lot of fun and I can’t wait till Vivien gets one. After that, we went back to the place that we were staying in.

On Friday it was the closing ceremony but we had to go back to where the main event was to do the British night. We had to wait ages before we got in then when we did get in we got told to sit down so Zoe, Katrina and I went around swapping our trinkets with people from other countries. It was great to get some momentoes from other countries – I got badges from Belgium, Australia, USA and a small hand towel from Japan. They are great to look back on and remind us of our trip.

Then we had to do the rehearsal which took very long and after that we had to do our British night routine in front of lots of people. Once we had done that we had to go all the way back to the big stadium which took ages again to walk all the way up the long steep hill for the closing ceremony. Here is a picture of some of the Great Britain team with Zoe, me and Katrina at the front.

We had to line up again in our countries then we all went into the stadium and listened to some Portuguese guy talk and then we done gymnastics but I didn’t because my wrist was sore. There was a big display which was really good.

When it was time to go back, we had to walk really fast so that we could get on the train. Once we were near the station there were loads of people so we had to try and get through them because it was the last train. We just got on it which was lucky. When we arrived back at where we were staying, we packed our stuff because we were going home the next morning.

On Saturday we had to get up early so that we could be at the airport on time. We got a taxi to the airport and got a trolley because our bags were too heavy (well mines was) we checked in and then sat in the lounge to get something to eat. We got on the plane to Heathrow.

When we arrived we thought we were going to be late for our plane to Edinburgh so we were running along the corridors. It was ok though because the plane was delayed by 15 minutes.

We were all glad to see our families again, and Vivien was glad to get back home to her bottle of Brandy after suffering us for a week. So then the mums and dads talked for a wee bit then we went home.

I really enjoyed it and will never forget it. Vivien has given us an opportunity of a lifetime and we owe her a special THANKS for all the hard work and coping with the three of us. 

By Claire Masterton