HARBOURSIDE GYMNASTICS STAFF TEAM
Claire And Mark Smoker - Directors of Harbourside Gymnastics Academy
Claire
Level 2 General Gymnastics coach
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full First aid
Claire has been a coach for the last 20 plus years. You will normally find her in reception and the café area. She is your main port of call for any advice, concerns or questions. Claire coaches the Development squad on Saturdays and helps coach the Elite training.
Mark
Level 2 General Gymnastics coach
Level 1 MAG Coach
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full First aid
Mark is the Men's artistic squad coach where he has some boys training for competitions. Mark loves coaching the boys on a Saturday. If you require equipment for home practice then please speak to them for advice.
Claire and Mark also owned gym factor where they supplied gymnastics equipment and shipped all across Europe.
Frances Smoker - Director and HEAD COACH
NP1 Team coach
Level 5 WAG coach
Level 1 MAG coach
Disabilities qualified coach
DMT Level 2 coach
Qualified Judge
BA(Hons) Physical Education degree
Sports leadership award level 2 and 3
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full First aid
Frances – Club Director, Head Coach & National Pathway Team 1 Coach
Frances is the Director and Head Coach of the club, as well as the National Pathway Team 1 Coach, leading the elite squads and driving the club’s high-performance programme. With a lifelong passion for the sport, Frances has been involved in gymnastics and trampolining since the age of six and has developed extensive experience both as a competitive athlete and an elite-level coach.
During her competitive career, Frances achieved success across Sussex and Great Britain, winning numerous medals and titles. Her achievements include becoming National League Champion in 2016 and English Silver Champion in both 2015 and 2016. She also represented the South East Gymnastics Team, competing in Birmingham where she secured a bronze medal before qualifying for the National Finals, where she went on to win silver.
Beyond the club, Frances plays an influential role within the wider gymnastics community. She serves on the board at IGA, where she leads the Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) discipline and also supports the development of the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) discipline.
Frances’ coaching continues to produce strong results. In 2024, three of her gymnasts qualified for the IGA National Finals, where they achieved multiple medals and All-Around podium placings, highlighting the strength of the pathway programme under her leadership.
Outside of the gym, Frances enjoys spending time with her fur baby, Blossom.
Aeryn Perkins - Recreational lead coach
NP3 Team coach
Pre-school and Recreational lead coach
GFA Team coach
Level 2 WAG gymnastics coach
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full paediatric first aid
Aeryn Perkins - National pathway Team 3, Pre-school and Recreational lead
Aeryn is a key member of our coaching team and leads the National Pathway Team 3 squad, inspiring athletes as they develop their skills and progress through the competitive pathway.
A Level 2 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) coach, Aeryn is currently working towards her Level 3 qualification, continuing to grow her knowledge and coaching expertise.
With a strong background in the sport, Aeryn has trained in Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) alongside Frances, as well as competing in Artistic Gymnastics. During her competitive career, she achieved numerous medals and successes at competitions across the country.
Bringing energy, experience, and passion to every session, Aeryn supports gymnasts with a strong focus on technique, confidence, and competition preparation, helping them reach their full potential.
Working full-time at Harbourside, Aeryn is the Lead Coach for our Recreational and Pre-School programmes and plays a huge role in shaping the future of the club. She will be launching a range of exciting new classes including Bungee, Music and Movement, Gym Tots, and much more — creating even more opportunities for children of all ages to get involved, stay active, and love gymnastics.
Anna-Belle Smoker
NP2 Team coach
level 3 woman's artistic.
Level 1 MAG coach
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full First aid
Anna – National Pathway Team 2 Coach
Anna is a key member of our coaching team and leads the National Pathway Team 2 squad. She is also an exciting addition to the HGA team.
Anna is incredibly dedicated to her coaching and is passionate about helping every gymnast reach their full potential. Her commitment and high standards have already led to fantastic success — in 2024, two of her gymnasts qualified for the IGA National Finals, where Lily Browning achieved an outstanding 2nd place overall in Level 8 Skill Seekers.
Also in 2024, Anna travelled to America to take part in the IGC Gymnastics training camp, where she spent two months coaching alongside Olympic coaches and Olympians. It was an unforgettable experience, and she has brought back invaluable knowledge and inspiration to share with our gymnasts.
Bringing energy, experience, and positivity to every session, Anna creates a supportive environment where gymnasts can grow in confidence, develop strong technique, and enjoy their training.
Known for her great sense of humour and positive attitude, Anna is a fantastic presence around the gym and always brings plenty of laughs. She can’t wait to welcome all gymnasts to her classes for hard work, progression, and plenty of fun!
Georgia Waite
RP1 Team coach
Level 2 WAG gymnastics coach
Level 2 trampoline coach.
Artistic Judge
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full first aid
Georgia – Regional Pathway Coach (RP1 Lead)
Georgia has been passionate about movement from a young age, starting her journey in dance at just four years old. She also began gymnastics as a child, later progressing into competitive gymnastics at the age of 12.
With previous coaching experience at other gymnastics clubs, Georgia quickly discovered her love for coaching and is excited to continue developing within the profession. She is currently working towards her IGA coaching qualifications, continuing to build her knowledge and expertise.
Georgia was previously part of our competitive Floor and Vault squad, giving her valuable athlete experience that she now brings into her coaching.
Now heading up our Regional Pathway programme, Georgia leads the RP1 team and plays a key role in preparing gymnasts for competition. In addition, she leads our trampolining programme, helping to develop skills across multiple disciplines within the club.
Passionate, driven, and supportive, Georgia is dedicated to helping every gymnast grow in confidence, refine their technique, and reach their full potential.
Codi Brown
RP2 Team coach
Level 1 General Gymnastics coach
Training for her Level 2 WAG
IGA Assistant Judge
Full DBS
Full safeguarding
Full First aid
Codi – Regional Pathway Team 2 Coach (RP2)
We’re delighted to introduce Codi, a fantastic member of our coaching team and coach of our Regional Pathway Team 2 (RP2), where she is successfully guiding gymnasts into competition.
Codi has recently achieved her Assistant Judging qualification, further strengthening her knowledge of the sport and enhancing the support she provides to her athletes as they progress through the competitive pathway.
Alongside her squad coaching, Codi also teaches Recreational Gymnastics classes throughout the week and runs our fantastic holiday clubs programme, creating fun, engaging experiences for gymnasts of all ages.
Codi brings great energy to every session and has a real passion for helping gymnasts learn new skills, build confidence, and enjoy their training. Her positive and enthusiastic approach makes her a favourite with the gymnasts.
Bubbly, supportive, and full of energy, Codi creates a fun and welcoming environment for all. She is excited to continue developing her squad and supporting gymnasts as they begin and grow in their competitive journeys.
Sophie Burns
RP4 team coach
Level 2 Gymnastics coach
Qualified trampoline level 2 coach
Qualified artistic judge.
BTEC Sports
Full DBS
Full safeguarding
Full First aid
Sophie – Regional Pathway Team 4 Coach (RP4)
Sophie is a highly experienced and passionate gymnastics coach, with over 15 years of coaching experience across five different clubs. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team and is dedicated to helping gymnasts develop their abilities and achieve their goals.
Having previously been a competitive gymnast herself, Sophie understands the demands of the sport and uses her experience to support and inspire her athletes.
Now leading our Regional Pathway Team 4 (RP4), Sophie plays a key role in preparing gymnasts for competition, building strong foundations, confidence, and performance skills.
Reliable, driven, and committed, Sophie is passionate about guiding each gymnast on their journey and helping them reach their full potential in a positive and supportive environment.
Sammy Dean
Level 1 General Gymnastics coach
Rhythmic Gymnastics coach
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full First aid
Sammy – Recreational & Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach
Sammy has been a valued member of the Harbourside team for over a year and loves teaching our gymnasts on Mondays and Wednesdays.
With a strong background in dance, Sammy studied dance at the University of Brighton, bringing creativity, musicality, and expression into her coaching.
Sammy is also our Rhythmic Gymnastics coach, leading sessions on Wednesdays and helping gymnasts develop coordination, flexibility, and performance skills in a fun and engaging environment. She is also a qualified Assistant Judge, further enhancing her understanding of performance and competition standards.
Friendly, enthusiastic, and passionate about working with children, Sammy creates a welcoming atmosphere in every session. She can’t wait to welcome you all to Harbourside for your gymnastics classes!
Hannah
trainee Gymnastics coach
Level 1 qualified Trampoline coach
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Full first aid
Hannah – Trainee Gymnastics Coach
We’re delighted to introduce Hannah, a trainee gymnastics coach who you’ll see in the gym on Thursdays and Fridays.
Hannah was previously a gymnast herself and is excited to pass on her passion and knowledge to the next generation of gymnasts. She is also a competitive trampolinist and Double Mini Trampoline (DMT) athlete, having competed at events across the country.
Bringing enthusiasm and energy to every session, Hannah is passionate about supporting young gymnasts as they build confidence, learn new skills, and enjoy their time in the gym.
Hannah will soon be completing her Level 1 coaching qualification as she continues to develop her coaching journey with us.
We’re very lucky to have Hannah as part of the team and can’t wait to see her grow within the club!
Chloe Nock
General Gymnastics trainee coach
Full DBS
Full Safeguarding
Chloe – Trainee Gymnastics Coach
Chloe is super excited to be part of the Harbourside coaching team and brings great energy and enthusiasm to every session.
Having been part of Harbourside when the club first opened, Chloe has come full circle — from gymnast to coach — and is now passionate about passing on her love of the sport to the next generation.
Chloe used to train in gymnastics herself and is excited to share her experience and knowledge with younger gymnasts, helping them build confidence, learn new skills, and enjoy their time in the gym.
Friendly, supportive, and full of positivity, Chloe is a fantastic addition to the team and can’t wait to welcome all gymnasts to their classes!
Lexi Bickerstaff
Trainee General Gymnastics coach
Full DBS
Lexi – Trainee Gymnastics Coach
We’re excited to introduce Lexi, the newest member of our coaching team!
Lexi was part of Harbourside when the club first opened in 2019, where she was a dedicated and hardworking gymnast who was always happy to support others around her.
Now returning as a coach, Lexi is passionate about helping gymnasts achieve their goals and is excited to pass on her love for the sport to the next generation.
As a trainee coach, Lexi is currently being mentored by Frances and will be working through her IGA coaching qualifications as she develops her skills and experience.
Friendly, enthusiastic, and eager to learn, Lexi can’t wait to meet all of our gymnasts throughout the week and be part of their journey in the gym!
Ruby Lovis
Trainee Gymnastics coach
Saturday soft play worker
Lets Introduce you to Ruby. Ruby is part of the Advanced squad where she has competed in many competitions the past couple of years and has won numerous amount of medals! Ruby works on a Saturday during the soft play and is such a hard little worker! She gives in 100% effort and has a bubbly, positive attitude!
Ruby is going to be trained up to be a general recreational coach soon where she will pass on her passion and love for the sport to the younger gynasts.
HARBOURSIDE GYMNASTICS SAFEGUARDIING
Jeni Jarvis
We would like to introduce to you all Jeni. Jeni is mum to Evie who is one of our squad gymnasts. Jeni is a teacher, fully DBS checked and has a certificate in safeguarding with children from East Sussex Country Council. Jeni is your point of call if you have any concerns regarding your own child or another child who attends Harbourside. Even if the concern is outside of the gym please do speak to Jeni. Jeni is kind and very approachable and will help in anyway she can! We are super luck to have her apart of our team!
Her Email Address is: