The team of Gabi Beament, Lexi Bounds and Maddie Stingel in level three and individual Juanita Cowling in level five will all compete at Kingborough Sports Centre on September 20.

Riverside is the only Northern gymnastics club to run a competitive rhythmic program, having been set up by previous head coach Nicola Coote four years ago and carried through by her replacement, Katrina Squires.

Squires has been aided by intermediate coach Zoe Elliott and beginners Katie Bounds and Cowling, the three younger coaches all having helped choreograph the level three routines, and Cowling her own.

President Fiona Beament said while the club had been in existence for 20 years, its competitive rhythmic program had a break of several years due to a lack of participants.

‘‘All our level three and five girls graded in August at the last competition, receiving good scores and positive constructive feedback as to where they can improve,’’ Beament said.

‘‘Lexi has been doing rhythmic gymnastics for just under two years, and Maddie and Gabi just over a year so to qualify for state championships is wonderful and due to their and their coaches’ dedication and hard work.

‘‘Juanita has made the transition to rhythmic only this year after 10 years competing in artistic gymnastics and recently attending the Australian championships at level seven.’’

Beament said each level completed routines in freehand (floor) plus three hand-held apparatus which included ball, hoop, ribbon and rope.

‘‘Rhythmic gymnastics is one of the most beautiful Olympic sports,’’ she said.

‘‘It is a combination of the dynamics and flexibility of gymnastics, the technical knowledge of ballet, and the self-expression and rhythm of modern dance.’’