He brought back a bronze from the FIG 10-year-old boys’ competition at the English Tumbling Championships in Telford, which had a record four Sarnians competing across the two days.
This marked the island’s first-ever English Championship medal at any level, let alone the elite FIG classification, and so it delighted Guernsey tumbling squad head coach Bobby Montague.
‘Robbie’s competing at a great level, and to come home with a medal, that was a great big step forward for us,’ he said.
Hill-Tout had already showed great potential in finishing fourth at April’s Spring Series One, a British Championships qualifier, being edged out of the medals on countback after tying with third on points.
But Montague feels the youngster had showed such promise from his early days.
‘We knew when he started, when he was about five, that this is the direction he was going to go in,’ he added.
‘The culmination of that and to see him at a great level and doing as well as he has, it’s really exciting.’
Maison Le Page had come close to his own medal after placing fourth in the club six boys’ 9-10 years category.
His achievement was even more impressive given that he has just turned nine and that it was only his third off-island competition – certainly his first of this level.
Meanwhile, Rosie Le Page went in the FIG girls 11-12 category and placed a very respectable 11th.
Her position was matched by the most senior squad member, Mya Vaudin, who was competing in the regional three girls 15-plus.
Montague had been happy to send a quartet of gymnasts to this high-standard competition, as opposed to two previously, and has thanked a significant upgrade to the Guernsey Tumbling Centre facilities for helping them raise their level.
‘It’s a massive step forward for the sport in the island,’ he said.
‘One of the most exciting things is seeing the growth of the squad as well as the growth of them as individuals.’
Later this month, some of Guernsey’s top tumblers will compete at a second qualifier for the British Championships, which take place in October.
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