About Salto A Brief History The club Salto was an amalgamation of 3 clubs (Maysfield, Olympia & Stranmillis) in the late 1970s. With the growing need for a full time facility within Belfast (due to the surge in gymnastics in the late 1970s) – 1983 saw Ireland’s first full-time gymnastics centre opening in Dunmurry with head coach Tony Byrne at the helm; this new centre was re-named Salto Gymnastic Centre – Salto meaning somersault in Russian. Salto has since developed into one of the most successful gymnastics clubs in the United Kingdom and is Irelands’ top gymnastics facility. Salto is also one of Ireland’s most successful sports clubs (not just gymnastics specific) and has successfully operated as a fully self sustaining business for over 20 years – pretty much unheard of for an ‘amateur’ sport – especially In Northern Ireland. Salto is a ‘not for personal profit’ business and operates with a very social context at its core. The club is actively involved in working with underpriviledged individuals and groups and operates many peace and reconciliation projects. The club is run by a number of extreemly dedicated people and opertates a large staff of full-time and part-time employees – all passionate about their sport – often carrying out tasks above and beyond the call of duty for the club. The club has been awarded the British Gymnastics - Northern Ireland Club of the Year Award every year since 1989 & has the prestige of being certified as Northern Irelands only Gymnastics Centre of excellence. Salto provides gymnastics classes to all levels of ability and ages ranging from parent and toddler sessions, kindergym & recreation sessions to adult sessions & special needs. The national women’s & men’s team also train at the facility. THERE ARE FEW CLUBS ACROSS ALL SPORTS THAT CAN CLAIM TO COVER SUCH A WIDE BASE IN NORTHERN IRELAND! The club operates a huge schools programme- many nursery, primary and secondary schools currently attend and many more have expressed interest in the extra ‘space’ that will be on offer in the new facility. The club has constantly produced outstanding national & international results at elite level competition… Salto Gymnastics, Lisburn has produced gymnasts who have competed at every Commonwealth Games Competitors since 1982
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