About the Gemini Twirl
Team
HISTORY OF OUR TEAM....
Gemini was established in November 1990, by the Bushaway family (Angie, Mick, Sharon and Mel)...who retired from the management and training of Gemini at the end of 2000.
In 1992 we started our first year of competition within the BBTSA (British Baton Twirling Sports Association), and the following year we joined the NBTA, with which we have been with ever since. Also in 1992 Debbie Rafferty joined us as our main coach and choreographer.
In January 2001 Catherine Mack and Keren Bale took over as Corps Directors and the management of Gemini, following the decision taken by the Bushaway family to step down as Corps Directors of Gemini. Debbie chose this time as well to finish her highly successful run as our main trainer and choreographer. In the years Keren and Catherine ran Gemini, many of the girls advanced status levels and did very well during this time.
In September 2003 however, Catherine and Keren made the decision to retire from their roles as Corps directors and from the beginning of 2004, the new Corps Director and trainer role was handed over to Gemma Steele. During 2004, Gemma qualified as an NBTA Teacher/Judge and is a member of the NBTA Technical Board also as of the end of 2008. In 2009 Wendy Handyside also became joint Corps Director of the team.
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS....
When we first started competing way back in 1992, we won a few medals at Regional level and since then we have had many Regional and National champions for both individual and team. Every year we travel down to Devon in the south of England and compete at the NBTA National Championships, with mnay of our girls achieving Nationals titles and top 6 places.
Many of the girls of us have also competed internationally also. In 1999 several of the then Senior members attended AYOP in Indiana, USA. There we received over 30 medals for individual achievements, and the title of World Open Corps Champions! We have also competed at the NBTA European Championships in 1997, 2002 and 2005, 2007 and 2008, the BBTSA World Championships in 2000 and the NBTA World Championships in 2003, 2006, and 2009 where several of the girls have competed in individual and team/corps routines.