A FORMER Dorchester YMCA gymnast who went on to achieve global success returned to the county town to inspire a new generation.

Kirsty Way visited the Sawmills Lane club fresh from claiming a silver medal at the Trampolining and Tumbling World Championships in Denmark.

Kirsty is currently a member of the OLGA Gymnastics Club in Poole and a pupil at the Thomas Hardye School.

Her ties with the Dorchester YMCA are strong, she joined the club as a toddler and it was where she discovered her passion for trampolining.

After a successful career as a junior trampolinist with Wessex Flyers in Weymouth, Kirsty transferred to OLGA where she experimented with the double mini trampoline - she turned out to be a natural and decided to focus her efforts on this event.

In 2014 Dorchester YMCA was also able to provide funding towards Kirsty’s trip to the World Age Group Championships in Florida.

It was as a result of this that she agreed to come back to the club and talk about her experiences in return.

The event included a talk from Kirsty and a raffle accompanied by mince pies donated by Tesco.

Centre manager Karen Hofen said: “The raffle, and a week where children paid to wear their onesie to gym, raised over £350 which will go towards the replacement of equipment in the gym.

“Kirsty brought her World Championships silver medal for everyone to see and answered questions from gymnasts, coaches and parents.”

Karen said raffle prizes were donated by a range of local businesses including Bovington Tank Museum, Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Dorset Cereals, House of Dorchester Chocolates, the Plaza Cinema in Dorchester, Petals and Bows Florist and the county town’s Tesco store.

Anyone wanting to know more about Dorchester YMCA can contact Karen on 01305 266467, email Dorchester-ymca@homail.co.uk or visit our website at dorchester-ymca-org.uk