A pair of Yukon gymnasts gave it their best shot at the 2015 Western Canadian Championships in Okotoks, Alta., last weekend.

Anisa Albisser and Reena Coyne represented the Polarettes Gymnastics Club at the event, which saw more than 400 athletes and coaches take part.

The girls battled nerves to finish ranked in the mid-teens for their performances on the vault, uneven bars, beam and floor.

“It was a bit of a heartbreaker,” said coach Cat O’Donovan. “If they had been judged on their warmup right before their routine, they would have placed at least top-10 in two or three events.

“But their nerves definitely showed when they had to show to the judges – especially on beam and bars,” O’Donovan added. “Floor was by far their standout event. They did great but for a couple minor errors, and in a competition that close, it cost them.”

The Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships are held annually with representation from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C., the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Emily King was originally slated to attend the event as well, but was injured at the Canada Winter Games.

The Polarettes trio had been working toward their Level 5 ranking, but both King and Albisser struggled with injuries this year.

“This has been our biggest year competing for all of them, because we had the Canada Winter Games and they also have Western Summer Games coming up,” said O’Donovan. “They’ve been pushing very hard for the last year to two years to prepare.”

The coach hopes to have her full complement of athletes available for the Western Summer Games in August.

While the Western Canadian Championships are always intimidating for the perennially small Yukon contingent, the athletes come away having made gains.

“They come out of it really inspired, really motivated with a better understanding of what is expected at that level,” said O’Donovan.

“I’m super proud of them. It was really stiff competition and it was a good learning experience for them.”