Two members of the Key City Gymnastics club are beneficiaries an athlete development grant this year.

The Kootenay Zone 1 awards a pair of annual $250 grants, and Leanne Perrich and Emily Penner have earned them this year.

Penner and Perrich compete at Level 4, the highest available in the Kootenays. Provincially, there is just one step above that.

Key City coach Garry Ricks said the athletes are fitting recipients given the hard work they put in and the results they’ve seen.

“They train approximately 17 hours a week, so they probably train more than most athletes,” said Ricks.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for them. It’s another way of recognizing our athletes in our zone and at our club for their dedication. We have other kids who are training that much and are trying to get to that level.”

Some highlights over the year include Perrich winning gold in the floor routine at the B.C. Winter Games, and taking top spot in that discipline in several other meets. Penner took beam bronze at provincials, where she finished top-5 overall.

“It’s an athlete development grant, and it costs a lot for them to go to training camps and different competitions, and I think it’s a way for the Zone to give back to the athletes,” said Ricks. “The higher level kids have to go to Vancouver and other competitions outside our Zone, and it gets quite expensive.”

In late August, the club took six gymnasts — including Penner — to a training camp in Surrey as part of the annual Gymnastics B.C. Congress.

“We don’t have the same training opportunities as other clubs, due to the size of our gym,” said Ricks, noting the club is looking the move into bigger digs or build in the near future.

“One of the big things with training camps outside our area is we get the opportunity to work in foam pits, and (the athletes) get access to lots of... Level 3 coaches or even higher.”

Ricks said the recent trip was a good one for the Key City Gymnasts, as it included an extra day and trained at a couple of Surrey-area clubs.

Back at home, the Key City club is holding its registration this week. Sign-up will be held tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at their facility at 310 First Avenue South.

They will also take part in the third annual Community Registration Night on Thursday. The event is being held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cranbrook Curling Club.