Meet the Aquila Team

Aquila is fortunate to boast a plethora of experience – but more than that; they’re great people!!

Cheryl  Gumieniak

Married to Andrzej with two daugthers Samantha and Nicola.

I first started trampoline at the age of 11, some 36 years ago. I completed the BTF award scheme and also won many medals, individual as well as team.

I became a coach in 1989 followed by my level 4 in 1991. Before joining Aquila I worked mainly for the Borough for over 14 years which gave me the desire to take my trampoline work to another level and enter competitions. Most recently I became the new Welfare Officer.

Chris  Kemp

Born in Leeds and moved to Swindon in 1997. I got involved in trampolining when Laura saw “Springs” training at Ridgeway and asked if she could do it. After Laura joined the club I did the usual parent stuff – helping set up and down, a bit of mat pushing etc and was then asked if I’d like to do a coaching course on the back of a couple of coaches leaving to have babies. So in 2001 I became a coach and have progressed up to Club Coach level. 

During my time at Springs I also passed the judging course allowing me to judge at the regional competitions. 3 years ago I took and passed my county judges course  allowing me to officiate at the National Gala competitions.

I thoroughly enjoy being involved in the “club” environment and I feel extremely proud of what we have achieved as a club over the last few years.

Jenny  Marsden

I started trampolining in Ipswich when I was 9, after discovering the sport at a friend’s birthday party. I continued trampolining and competing in Ipswich until I went to University where I joined the University club.

After University I moved to Swindon after a short break from trampolining I joined Aquila and rediscovered my interest for the sport. I initially joined in the Adult class but after being persuaded to compete again I soon began training more and learning lots of new skills.

In August 2009 I qualified as an assistant coach and began regularly coaching. I really enjoy the challenge of coaching and earlier this year qualified as a Level 2 coach.

Leigh  Stone

I’ve lived in Swindon all my life. I started trampolining in 2003 aged 15. I first bounced at the link centre and at 16 met Cheryl and Rich in the adult class. I continue to bounce and have just got back into competing after a long break. I took my assistant coach qualification in 2007.

Louise  Walker

I have lived in Swindon since I was 8. I was a keen gymnast when I was at school. I also started trampolining at school when I was 14. The trampoline coach also ran a club which I joined. I took my coaching qualification when I was 18, just as the other coach was leaving to have a baby, so I took over the running of ‘Springs Trampoline Club’. I then spent many years running and expanding the club (with other coaches that joined me). I also took my club coach qualification some years later and became a judge.

I have continued to coach since then although I substantially reduced the amount I did when I had my family. Ben & Joseph are now enjoying trampolining too.

I still love to coach but it makes it easier if you are working within a team of other coaches who work together so well and want to make Aquila an enjoyable place to learn trampolining.

Richard  Law

I have lived in Swindon all my life, married to Katharine in 2003, and have two fantastic children, Harry and Ellen. My first experience with trampoline was at school when I was 15 years. I soon developed a keen interest and became a coach at the age of 18. Whilst still at school I attended classes at the local sports centre, and eventually started competition with a local club. I was fortunate to be introduced to Rosie Bascombe of Ringwood and Bournemouth at a Regional 345 (as it was back then) competition where I was offered a place in training with Rosie. Over the years I progressed my coaching and as a competitor, I achieved National Grade 1 and even had the opportunities to compete at various International competitions.

Unfortunately, it was around this time in my trampoline career that a medical condition (unknown at the time) resulted in a training accident that later forced me to retire as a competitive gymnast. I had made so many lifelong friends at Ringwood, so the decision to stop training was a difficult one. I still coach with Ringwood on occasion, but the connection is mostly friendship now.

Since then, I have begun a new challenge… as a coach! – My goals have moved from Grade 1 (Fig B) top 10, to realising this potential in others. Aquila has given me something I didn’t think I would find again – a sense of family and community; I have the pleasure of coaching, working, and training with a fantastic group of individuals and I thoroughly enjoy being a coach.

Rob  Loveless

I began my trampoline career at the ripe old age of 16 when I attended Sixth Form College in Southampton. I joined Southampton Trampoline Club and got to work with the brilliant Howard Tear, the then and current head coach. I have maintained a long term relationship with the club and continue to find inspiration which I use to this day.

Coaching also began at sixth form where I took physical education as a main subject and trampoline as my main sport (both competitive and coaching). I did my first coaching qualifications with the British Trampoline Federation, the then governing body, being taught by the late and great Bert Scales, the then national team coach.

I later moved to London where while coaching I meet my wife Vivienne. We married in October 1987 and have four great kids in Sam, Joe, Rachel and Harry. We moved to Swindon in 1989 and I joined Louise for a while at Springs before coaching at local centres for a few years.

At the start of 2008 I joined Aquila after looking for a club that had an attitude towards this sport that matched my own love for providing a place where the focus is on bringing people to their full potential as well as enjoying the activity. I am now looking forward to working with a group of talented and enthusiastic people and growing Aquila to become a major club in Trampoline and DMT and, hopefully, finding future world champions....