Ten-year-old Leonie Gawthorpe, who trains in the local gymnastics club at the sports centre, competed in the championships on October 12 against gymnasts from all around the state, excluding the metropolitan area.

Leonie came third in the freehand, sixth in the hoop and second overall.

Leonie's mother Liz Gawthorpe said she was very proud of her daughter and very surprised she came second.

Leonie said she was also surprised she won and was pleased she did well in the freehand competition, because that was her favourite.

She said they stayed the week at Port Macquarie and had a wonderful holiday there.

This is not the first time Leonie has done well in a gymnastics competition.

She came first in the Regional Championships this year in Inverell and came 19th in the State Championships.