GymnastBritish Official Magazine July/August 2012

Let the Games begin... Olympic Special Meet our Olympians User Guide

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Gymnast 3 Olympic Performance Director, Tim Jones (left), standing Good luck... proud with Great Britain’s gymnastics Olympians

to all our Olympians

Gymnast 4 Gymnast 5 Warm-Up The waiting is over and the selections made for London 2012. The qualifications through three World championships has resulted in an outstanding team of gymnasts who will now compete at The North Greenwich Arena and Wembley with the very best in the world of gymnastics - and yes, we are in that category. What is more we have set our marker for Rio 2016 with two of the men’s team still in their teens, and the youngest of all competitors in the whole of Team GB in Rebecca Tunney at 15 our senior women’s artistic champion.

For the first time the occasion was celebrated with a ‘special farewell ‘dinner when not only were the selected gymnasts recognised but of great importance the selected back up team, the gymnasts’ individual coaches and their parents. Congratulations to you all and enjoy what will be a memorable two weeks of sport. Paul Garber President, The final selections I know brought disappointment to some who Vice President, UEG worked so hard to gain a place on the team. You must also be congratulated not only for the great effort you individually put into seek selection but also for being part of an outstanding group of sportsmen and women who made the final selection so difficult.

The combined British championships at Liverpool made a statement of how we must honour the quality of our gymnasts in the future with an event of excellence bringing great credit to our sport.

The new image of British Gymnastics has now been launched and yes we are “More than a Sport”. We have often said that the ethos of gymnastics touches everywhere - health, education, fitness, welfare, the community and so much more. As we have said this unique logo incorporates beauty and passion reflecting the very essence of movement and finesse.

As many of you will now know your democratic decision at the special general meeting was that your President will be nominated and elected by the membership. The election will take place at The AGM with nominations soon to be requested.

If you were lucky enough to get a ticket for the Olympics have a great and unforgettable time-no matter what the sport.

Gymnast 7 Contents 14 Beth Tweddle Introducing our gymnasts representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics 16 Women’s Artistic Team 20 Francesca Jones 22 Kat Driscoll 24 Rachel Smith 26 Rhythmic Group 32 Louis Smith 34 Men’s Artistic Team 39 Olympic preview Who to look out for at London 2012 50 Olympic Schedule 52 Excel Coaching Tips Rhythmic Group gymnast Georgina Cassar interviewed at the official team announcement in Loughborough on 4th July.

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Copyright © 2012. Identification and naming of individual gymnasts on printed photographs Published by The British Amateur is determined by the information received and therefore cannot be Gymnastics Association. All guaranteed for accuracy. rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, The views expressed by the individual contributors are not necessarily stored in a retrieval system or those of British Gymnastics. Equally the inclusion of advertisements in transmitted in any form by any this magazine does not constitute endorsement by British Gymnastics means, electronic, mechanical, of the products or services concerned. British Gymnastics is unable to photocopying, recording or recommend any product, guarantee that it is free of any banned substance otherwise without written or take any responsibility for any claims of effectiveness. permission of British Gymnastics. July 2012 | The Gymnast Magazine | 3 Gymnast 8 Editorial Volume 50 Issue 6 Editor Advertising Tim Peake George Miller [email protected] Cabbell Publishing Ltd, Wimbledon Studios, 1 Deer Park Road, Contributors London, SW19 3Tl Olivia Howard T: 020 3603 7930 [email protected] [email protected]

Vera Atkinson Published by [email protected] British Gymnastics Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Design Newport, Shropshire, Tf10 9NB Mark Young T. 0845 1297129 Kathy-Ann Davies, Registered In England No. 1630001 Joanne Richards and VAT Reg. No. 100166672 Holly Campbell www.british-gymnastics.org BGtv British Gymnastics Gareth Finchett and Phil Marsh Official Photographer [email protected] Alan Edwards www.sports-photo.co.uk British Gymnastics Official Photo Partner DE Photo www.dephoto.biz

Gymnast 10 Young gun

The youngest member of Team GB and current women’s artistic British champion, 15-year- old Rebecca Tunney, is set to show the world her incredible talent on the greatest stage of all

Gymnast 12 Gymnast 13 Meet our Olympians... GBR women’sartistic team By Tim Peake TweddleBeth “It is of course a massive the support of the whole honour to be selected country. Everyone knows to Team GB for the everything about the . Games this year and This is my third people are really interested Olympics and in all the events and all the with it being on team members. home soil it’s definitely the From to here has most special. been a long journey. After Games, my coach and Date of Birth: 1 April 1985 2008 I wasn’t even sure parents have shared The build- I would carry on but the Place of Birth: South Africa the journey with me, up has huge support for London Club: City of Liverpool British Gymnastics, the been totally and the enthusiasm of the Coach: Amanda Reddin funding partners and different and public has really motivated the amazing medical Profile: Beth is Britain’s greatest you really me and inspired me to team have supported me ever gymnast, three time feel carry on training hard. and the backing of the World champion, six time The aim for the Games is gymnastics community European champion to do the routines I have has inspired me. and seven time British practiced day in day out in Everything about champion. Beth has training, if I can do that, competing in the competed at the Olympic then I will be happy. Olympic Games is Games in and exciting, the moment you Beijing and was given A lot of people have get the official letter, the the MBE for services to played a huge part kitting out, the multi- gymnastics in 2010. in getting me to the sport atmosphere, it’s all a huge honour to be a part of and I can’t wait.” Gymnast 14 Gymnast 15 GBR women’sartistic team Hannah Whelan Imogen Cairns Date of Birth: 1 July 1992 Date of Birth: 26 January 1989 Place of Birth: Singapore Place of Birth: Bristol Club: City of Liverpool Club: The Academy Coach: Amanda Reddin Coach: Liz Kincaid Profile: Hannah was the 2011 British all- Profile: Imogen is regarded as one of around champion and won bronze on Britain’s best vaulters. After her rise floor and beam at the 2012 European to fame at the 2006 Commonwealth Championships. She was the youngest Games, Imogen went on to compete member of the British team at the 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. She has Beijing Olympics. won three gold and two silver Commonwealth medals in her career.

Gymnast 16 Gymnast 17 GBR women’sartistic team Rebecca Tunney Jennifer Pinches Date of Birth: 26 October 1996 Date of Birth: 25 May 1994 Place of Birth: Ashton-under-Lyne Place of Birth: Tunbridge Wells Club: City of Liverpool Club: City of Liverpool Coach: Claire Duffy Coach: Amanda Reddin Profile: Rebecca is a first year senior and the Profile: Jenni is a talented gymnast youngest member of the team at with many achievements in just 15 years old. She first made an the age groups and has been appearance at the London Prepares a consistent member of the Olympic test event in January 2012. At GB team. She took bronze in the 2012 European Championships she the all-around at the 2011 made the floor final and followed up by British Championships becoming the senior all-around British going one better with Champion. silver in 2012.

Gymnast 18 Gymnast 19 GBR individual rhythmicindividual

FrancescaBy Tim Peake

Jones“To be able to call myself a member of TeamGB is amazing.”

“It was back in September because it is the highest up in this country as it is that I began to really focus honour any athlete could such a beautiful sport. on the Games having placed have, to compete at an the top ranked gymnast at Olympics. Hopefully, many new the World Championships people will get hooked on and although this meant I I can’t even imagine what the sport, whether they are was the front runner to be it is going to be like at watching it in London or on picked, I have never stopped the Games, the whole TV in their homes. working hard to ensure that atmosphere is going to this was confirmed and will be crazy for the Team GB To leave a lasting legacy continue my hard work to athletes and the whole of from these Games that Date of Birth: 9 November 1990 ensure my best performance Britain is going to be so inspires people to take up Place of Birth: Kettering at the Games. excited rhythmic gymnastics would Club: City of Birmingham be my dream come true.” When I think of competing I just want to do as nice Coach: Lisa Higgins In London I have a strange a routine as I can and Profile: Six time British champion, Frankie is range of emotions because I make everybody who has the most experienced gymnast in the have a lot excitement mixed helped me along the way, British team; she has taken part in three with nerves as I have been like coaches, parents and World Championships, four European building up to this moment my family, proud. I also Championships, two Commonwealth all my life. It has been a long hope the Olympics helps Games and in numerous other major road and such a battle but rhythmic gymnastics get international events. it has all been worthwhile more coverage which can inspire gymnasts to take it Gymnast 20 Gymnast 21 By Tim Peake GBR individualtrampoline Date of Birth: 13 March1986 Place of Birth: Houghton Le Spring, Tyne and Wear Club: Apollo Coach: William Leach Profile: Competing both individual and in the non-Olympic synchronised discipline with partner Amanda Parker, Kat has reached top ranking in the world. In 2011 she took the world cup scene by storm Kat with four individual medals. Driscoll trampoline gymnastics individual “It has been a long I am always so proud to only guess what it will what a selection process for compete for my country feel like as this is all a new fantastic sport trampoline so to be and feel it is such an experience for me but trampoline able to come out on honour that my only goal one I’m sure will never gymnastics top and be named at these Games is to be leave me. I can’t wait is and will part of Team GB able to walk away from to be around the other hopefully help is an incredible the trampoline happy members of Team GB and inspire a future feeling and a huge that I have done the best share this experience. generation of honour. I can do. trampoline The journey I have been gymnasts.” I’ve dreamt of I’m very excited to on has involved so many competing at an compete in front of people and I have them Olympic Games the home crowd and all to thank and my way of since I was a child use their support doing this is to perform to and continually told to help build on my my best on 4th August. my dad I would be performance. I’m sure there one day as part there will be plenty of Performing as part of Team of Team GB. nerves to go with this GB this summer will help excitement and can showcase to everybody

Gymnast 22 Gymnast 23 By Tim Peake GBR rhythmicgroup team

Date of Birth: 3 January 1993 Place of Birth: Coventry Hometown: Bath Club: Bath achel Coach: Sarah Moon Profile: Team captain and an experienced international competitor, Rachel has competed individually at junior and senior European level and in all the group’s Smith international events. RGBR rhythmic group captain “It’s been a long road for To be the team captain is ultimately brings focus to us to get to the Games a great honour. I see my rhythmic gymnastics which “We can’t wait but now we’re finally at role as trying to motivate can only be a good thing. that point where we are people, to make sure to represent officially selected and everyone’s happy and We can’t wait to represent being part of Team GB focussed and to support our country and do our country feels amazing. both the girls and the ourselves proud. Wearing coach to ensure we all keep the GB kit and meeting and do As a group we have worked together as a unit, which is other famous athletes will so hard to make it to the of course pretty vital in our be amazing. We are realistic ourselves Olympics and have been sport. in our aims, we’re not going through all the emotions there to win medals, we proud.” along the way. I think in the The journey we have are going to showcase our end this has only made us all been on has changed my amazing sport, to make all appreciate it even more. life often in ways I didn’t our fantastic supporters, expect. I’ve suddenly found friends and family proud Since the Test Event we have myself doing interviews and to enjoy a once in been focussed on trying to which I’m getting used to a lifetime experience perfect our routines. We train and also we have found together. I am so excited for pretty much every day with ourselves getting lots of the Olympic Games and I conditioning, weight training attention through media, find myself counting down and plenty of routines. fans and sponsors which the days until we compete.

Gymnast 24 Gymnast 25 GBR rhythmicgroup team Francesca Fox Jade Faulkner Date of Birth: 13 June 1992 Date of Birth: 21 December 1993 Place of Birth: Trowbridge Place of Birth: Coventry Club: Bath Club: Bath Coach: Sarah Moon Coach: Sarah Moon Profile: A former senior British Profile: Another very experienced champion, Frankie international gymnast, Jade has competed in has represented Britain every major rhythmic at World and European - except Championships and as far the Olympics. She is a afield as Japan, Russia and Commonwealth Games Australia. bronze medallist.

Gymnast 26 Gymnast 27 GBR rhythmicgroup team

Louisa Pouli Lynne Hutchison Georgina Cassar Date of Birth: 29 January 1993 Date of Birth: 10 November 1994 Date of Birth: 9 September 1993 Place of Birth: Greece Place of Birth: Place of Birth: Gibraltar Club: Bath Club: Bath Club: Bath Coach: Sarah Moon Coach: Sarah Moon Coach: Sarah Moon Profile: Raised in Greece, Louisa has lived in Profile: Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Profile: An experienced international Britain for several years now, following and former Junior British champion, competitor who represented Gibraltar her dream of gymnastic success, and Lynne was England’s top ranked at the Delhi Commonwealth Games recently relocated to Bath for the rhythmic gymnast in 2010 and has and who has now relocated to Bath to group’s full time training programme. competed in more than 12 countries. train full time with the group.

Gymnast 28 Gymnast 29 London Prepares Test Event L-R; Georgina Cassar, Rachel Smith, Lynne Hutchison, Francesca Fox, GBR Jade Faulkner & Louisa Pouli rhythmicgroup team

Gymnast 30 Gymnast 31 GBR men’sartistic team Date of Birth: 22 April 1989 Place of Birth: Peterborough Club: Huntingdon Coach: Paul Hall Louis Profile: Louis’s strongest event is the pommel horse, at which he has been European silver medallist three times (2009, 2010 and 2012) and Commonwealth Games Champion. He won a bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships and repeated this at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and at the 2011 World Smith Championships. “I know what I’m capable of...” “It’s unbelievable to be anything to go by it’s just It’s almost impossible to do I know what I’m capable named as part of the going to be immense and justice to all the support of so beyond anything I team for London. It’s there’s no doubt we can I’ve received, from my intend to go there and been such an intense use it in our favour. coach and everyone at do myself justice. That’s time in the lead up to the British Gymnastics to my the best I can ask for and announcement with such It’s just been a crazy four teammates, my sponsors whatever that results in is a strong squad to pick years since Beijing, for and of course my friends then out of my hands. from. Now we’ve got to me and especially for and family. But the support do the business at the gymnastics in this country. from the general public The thing I’m looking Games, which we’re all I’m not sure anyone ever across the country has forward to the most is the capable of. expected such rapid just been unreal. From the atmosphere. A sell-out development and it’s tweets to the letters of arena for gymnastics in I got a taste of what it such a positive thing for support, it’s what keeps this country is something will be like competing everyone involved in the me motivated at such an we couldn’t have even in front of a home sport. Now we have a important time. dreamt of a few years crowd of that scale chance to really show how ago. It’s just going to be 2012 British Championships at the Test Event in far we’ve come. My aim for the Games is unbelievable.” January and if that’s to do my routines clean.

Gymnast 32 Gymnast 33 GBR men’sartistic team Daniel Purvis Kristian Thomas Date of Birth: 13 November 1990 Date of Birth: 14 February1989 Place of Birth: Liverpool Place of Birth: Wolverhampton Club: Southport YMCA Club: Earls Coach: Jeff Brookes and Andrei Popov Coach: Michelle Bradley and Andrei Popov Profile: Dan was the 2010 World Profile: Kristian rose to prominence in and European floor bronze 2008 when he was crowned senior medallist and three time all- British champion. He followed this around British champion. He up with a superb performance at won the 2011 Glasgow World the 2009 World Championships in Cup and finished the year as London where he came 6th in the the number one ranked male all-around. gymnast in the world.

Gymnast 34 Gymnast 35 GBR men’sartistic team Sam Oldham Max Whitlock Date of Birth: 17 February1993 Date of Birth: 13 January1993 Place of Birth: Nottingham Place of Birth: Hemel Hempstead Club: n/a Club: South Essex Coach: Sergei Sizhanov Coach: Scott Hann Profile: Sam holds the Youth Olympic high bar Profile: Max was first selected for the title and was the junior European all- men’s senior team as travelling around champion in 2010 as well as reserve for the 2011 World high bar champion. At senior level he Championships in Tokyo having took 4th place in the high bar final at taken three medals at the 2010 the 2011 European Championships. Commonwealth Games in Delhi Returning from injury he won high (India). bar and all-around silver at the 2012 British Championships.

Gymnast 36 Gymnast 37 London 2012 Olympic Games The 2012 PREVIEW Olympic Games will take place in London from the 27th July - 12th August with eighteen Britain’s Daniel British gymnasts Purvis, ranked selected to world number one represent Team GB in 2011

Gymnast 39 “We are extremely proud to be able to name such a strong Beijing team to compete for Team GB in the Gymnastics disciplines in London. The competition 2008 for places has been intense and we had both the luxury results and challenge of so many Women’s Artistic All-Around great gymnasts to select 1. Nastia Luikin (USA) from. This Olympic cycle 2. Shawn Johnson (USA) 3. Yang Yilin (CHN) to date has been the most productive and successful Women’s Team ever for British Gymnastics at 1. 2. USA international level, and we go 3. Romania into the Games in great shape with more gymnasts capable Men’s Artistic All-Around 1. Wei Yang (CHN) of making their mark than 2. Kohei Uchimura (JPN) ever before. The mood in the 3. Benoit Caranobe (FRA) camp is positive and we are Men’s Artistic Team all looking forward to building 1. China our reputation ever further 2. Japan with a strong showing at the 3. USA London Games.” Female Trampoline he men’s artistic taking place on Thursday 1. (CHN) 2. (CAN) team will begin their 9th and Friday 10th August. T 3. Ekaterina Khilko (UZB) campaign in subdivision The journey from 2008 1 of the qualification to the London Games has Male Trampoline competition (Saturday seen unparalleled success 1. (CHN) 28th July) and the women for British gymnasts on the 2. Jason Burnett (CAN) in subdivision 3 (Sunday international stage. 3. (CHN) 29th July). Medals have been secured Rhythmic Individual All-Around Our GB female trampoline at every major artistic 1. Evgenia Kanaeva (RUS) 2. Inna Zhukova (BLR) gymnast Kat Driscoll will gymnastics event in the 3. Ganna Bezsonova (UKR) start competition on cycle with the total medal Saturday 4th August in the haul across all Olympic Rhythmic Group All-Around first flight with the rhythmic disciplines over double that 1. Russia qualifications for our group of the four years prior to Tim Jones 2. China and individual Frankie Jones, Beijing. British Gymnastics Olympic 3. Belarus Performance Director

Gymnast 40 Gymnast 41 By Olivia Howard ones to watch Anything can happen have said they are aiming at an Olympic Games, for the top two spots in the especially in gymnastics, all-around event in London. so although no one’s Jordyn’s task will not be easy certain for a medal here however, young Larissa are a few of the top Iordache from Romania has contenders… proved throughout the last year that she can post some huge scores and with the potential of an upgraded women’s vault to the same standard as Weiber she could snatch the title from the young artistic American. The Russians are America’s golden girl, also not ones to forget with Jordyn Wieber is definitely the return of 2010 World one to watch at this year’s Champion Alinya Mustifina Games. Jordyn was the and 2011 World silver 2011 World Champion and medallist Victoria Komova. took the American Cup In the team event, USA and the US Championship will be looking to win their titles earlier in the year. first team gold since the She will be pushed all the 1996 Atlanta Games but way however by team mate with the Romanian and jordyn wieber Gabby Douglas who has Russian teams growing been long known as the ever stronger and a three ‘underdog’ but who recently gymnasts compete, three proved to be one of the scores count format in the top contenders when she team final, the title could be took the top spot at the US anybodys. Olympic trials. The girls

Gymnast 42 Gymnast 43 kohei uchimura

men’s artistic

The man of the moment in men’s is Kohei Uchimura from Japan. Kohei will have strong competition from an outstanding American squad and one cannot forget Britain’s Daniel Purvis, ranked world number one in 2011. In the team event, China will be looking to defend their title but will be challenged strongly by Japan and the USA as well as nations such as Germany, France and Great Britain.

Gymnast 44 Gymnast 45 In female , the Chinese and Canadian gymnasts are the ones to watch.

Karen Cockburn from has medalled in every Olympic Games thus far and winning a silver medal in Beijing will be looking to go one better in London. However, hot on her heels will be her team mate Rosie MacLennan and not forgetting Great Britain’s Kat Driscoll who was ranked world number one in the year of 2011. Although there will be no British representative in the men’s competition, it’s the Japanese and the Chinese trampoline gymnasts that will look to battle it out for the medals. The time of flight score will be used for the first time at this Olympic Games so this could be a deciding factor in the final results. karen cockburn karen trampolining

Gymnast 46 Gymnast 47 evgenia kanaeva rhythmic In the group competition summer in London. One Olympic title. As in the for Rhythmic, Russia should not forget Bulgaria groups Belarus and are three time Olympic and Belarus however, who Bulgaria will give strong champions. However, are always very strong performances as well since the last Games Italy performers. as Alix Garaeva from have won the World and Azerbaijan and Alexandra European titles and will be In the individual event, Maximienko from the looking to go one better Russia’s Evgenia Kanaeva Ukraine. and take Olympic gold this will look to defend her

Gymnast 48 2012 Women’s Artistic North Greenwich Arena London qualifications 29 July Women’s Qualification 09:30 - 12:45 14:45 - 18:00 20:00 - 21:30

finals 31 July Women’s Team 16:30 - 19:30 Olympics 2 August Women’s Individual All-Around 16:30 - 18:30 5 August Women’s Vault 14:00 - 16:15 Gymnastics 6 August Women’s Uneven Bars 14:00 - 16:20 7 August Women’s Balance Beam 14:00 - 17:05 competitionschedule Women’s Floor Exercise Trampoline Men’s Artistic North Greenwich Arena North Greenwich Arena qualifications 3 August Men’s 14:00 - 16:15 & finals 4 August Women’s 14:00 - 16:15 qualifications 28 July Men’s Qualification 11:00 - 13:10 15:30 - 17:40 20:00 - 22:10

finals 30 July Men’s Team 16:30 - 19:30 1 August Men’s Individual All-Around 16:30 - 19:35 Rhythmic 5 August Men’s Floor Exercise 14:00 - 16:15 WEMBLEY ARENA Men’s Pommel Horse 6 August Men’s Rings 14:00 - 16:20 qualifications 9 August Individual: Rotations 1 & 2 12:00 - 16:10 Men’s Vault Group: Rotation 1 7 August Men’s Parallel Bars 14:00 - 17:05 10 August Individual: Rotations 3 & 4 12:00 - 16:10 Men’s Horizontal Bar Group: Rotation 2

finals 11 August Individual 13:30 - 16:05 12 August Group 13:30 - 15:10

Gymnast 50 Gymnast 51 Trampoline Gymnastics Arabian Take Offs By Jay Scouler

coaching tips Our YouTube channel contains the latest event highlights and features. You can now embed our YouTube videos into your own websites and social media accounts any time you like.

Women’s Artistic Beam Landing Positions By Carol-Angela Orchard

Gymnastics for All Apparatus Skills and Partnership By Lisa Higgins

Reminder All Excel Tips of the Week will be released every Thursday morning. Coaches should only coach skills that are contained within their current BG Keep an eye on GymBlast to find qualifications and within a bg recognised environment. out what each weekly tip will be.

Gymnast 52 Gymnast 53 daniel purvis rebecca tunney

Round-Up An action packed month in the lead up to the Olympic Games… june

he 2012 Men’s men’s under -18 champion Keatings who has also routines on all four pieces The final day saw withdraw from the floor final & Women’s and Jay Thompson the suffered injury woes, took of apparatus ending on the gymnasts battle in order to rest. Artistic men’s under-16 champion. the bronze scoring 90.700 beam where she showed for apparatus titles. and impressing particularly extraordinary control under Niamh Rippin took both Gymnastics In the senior finals which on parallel bar (15.550) and pressure to seal the title The stand out routine came the floor (14.25) and vault TBritish Championships also acted as the final pommel (15.450). with 56.750 points. from Louis Smith who (14.150) titles with Jenni were held together at Olympic trials, Daniel Purvis scored a huge 16.375 on Pinches the beam champion Echo Arena in Liverpool retained his British senior In the women’s event 15 Jennifer Pinches took pommel horse, even finding (14.300). Daniel Keatings on with Britain’s best all-around title scoring a year old City of Liverpool the silver with strong time on his dismount to parallel bars (15.700) again gymnasts competing in huge 91.550 points to be gymnast Rebecca Tunney performances on floor, tap his chest in celebration proved he is back to form front of an enthusiastic crowned champion for the produced a sensational vault and beam leading her proving he is well on track along with Sam Oldham on third successive year. all-around performance to to a score of 56.350. 2012 and prepared to once again high bar (15.300). Kristian crowd to begin a three be crowned the all-around champion Hannah Whelan go for the medals at the Thomas took vault (16.200) day gymnastics feast. Sam Oldham, returning champion. sealed the City of Liverpool Olympic Games. and floor (15.525) and to form following injury, podium domination scoring Daniel Purvis rings (15.200). Gabby Jupp was crowned took the silver with 90.050, In her first year as senior 55.800 despite a fall on Beth Tweddle on bars was the junior women’s his final high bar routine Rebecca showed sublime beam. in similarly impressive form champion, Frank Baines the sealing his medal and Daniel composure to produce clean scoring 15.850; deciding to

Gymnast 54 Gymnast 55 Francesca Jones won under-11 title. In the her sixth British rhythmic disability events Holly Rhythmic, Boys’ & gymnastics title in style at Hammill , Katie O’Connor Fenton Manor in Stoke-on- and Rowena Francis were all Intermediate Gymnastics Trent. Frankie scoring an crowned British champions. impressive 99.125 points The men’s artistic boys to take the gold from first British Championships British Championships year senior Laura Halford also ran along with the (89.200) with Frankie’s rhythmic event giving Birmingham club-mate the audience non-stop 2012 Mimi Cesar in bronze action to admire. Donnell (87.875). Osbourne was crowed the under-12 British champion Frankie was also top with 77.800, with Jamie scorer with every piece of Lewis in silver (76.250) and apparatus, hoop (24.175), Jack Chamberlain, bronze ball (25.275), clubs (24.375) (73.400). and ribbon (25.300). On the second day of In the junior competition competition Joe Fraser Helena Bailey took the was crowned the under-14 gold with 81.275, Megan men’s artistic gymnastics Balabay the silver with British Champion with 81.125 and Lauren Brash, 81.700, Tom Nicolaou bronze with 80.800. placed 2nd with 80.150 Leah Munday took the and Giarnni Regini-Moran under-12’s (77.875) and 3rd with 79.250. Stephanie Antonova the

joe fraser

francesca jones

Gymnast 56 Gymnast 57 Frankie Jones won the megan balabay Later in the month... 11th Irina Deleanu Orange in Bucharest Trophy in Bucharest scoring 103,300. Teammates Mimi Cesar and Stephanie Sherlock took 10th (95.875) and 14th (92.850) 2012 European respectively. Rhythmic In the junior event, Jael Gymnastics Gore finished 8th in the all- Championships around scoring 84.850 and went on to claim 6th in the for Senior ribbon and 7th in both the Groups & Junior hoop and ball finals. Individual The 2012 European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships for Senior Group & Junior Individual in Nizhny, Novgorod (RUS) were a good chance for our younger gymnasts to test themselves and for our group to get more major competition experience.

In the juniors, Megan Balabay competed ball (22nd) and hoop (30th), Lauren Brash clubs (31st) and Helena Bailey ribbon (34th) with the team finishing in 31st.

The group, without team member Francesca Fox, scored 22.325 with 5 balls and 21.825 with 3 ribbon and 2 hoops to finish in 16th.

mimi cesar

Gymnast 58 Gymnast 59 Trampoline nathan bailey & Gymnastics British Championships

The weekend 7th & open. Following a strong 8th July saw a fantastic performance, Nathan display of gymnastics Bailey took the title with at the NIA arena in 56.665 ahead of Daniel Birmingham for the 2012 Greaves in silver (55.265) trampoline, tumbling and and Liam Abrahams in bronze (54.440). British Championships. In the senior mens With only weeks to go tumbling there were only before the start of the two gymnasts competing. London Olympics, Team Kristof Willerton regained GB’s Kat Driscoll got her his title over Abdullah last chance to perform in Izzidien and across in the front of a home crowd and women’s competition Tim Horgan, who took successfully defended her Rachel Letsche emerged the gold over defending British title with a fantastic victorious, ahead of champion Peter Cracknell, routine to score 54.105 Deborah Gathercole in who was then followed by ahead of Bryony Page in silver and Sophie Parkin in Jason Plowman in bronze. second (53.180) and Laura bronze. Across all age groups Gallagher in third (50.945). and all disciplines there In the DMT senior women’s were some fantastic In the senior mens event, a new champion performances, proving trampoline competition, was crowned as Georgia the strength and depth uncharacteristic errors Downing kept her of talent on show at the from James Higgins put composure to win gold championships. him out of the final and ahead of last year’s winner with last year’s winner Robyn Osborne and Lydia Luke Strong unable to Yates in bronze. In the compete due to injury; men’s there was again the top spot was left wide another new title winner,

Gymnast 60 Gymnast 61 amanda parker Now only £17.25 per pack Key Steps & Next Steps Gymnastics Fun, Friendly and Progressive Competitions Also in trampoline gymnastics...

Kat Driscoll, Amanda Parker, Luke Strong and Nathan • Designed to enable children to • Next Step builds upon the basic skills Bailey represented GBR at experience the thrill and challenge of learnt in Key Steps through discipline the trampoline World Cup intra and inter school competition specific skills found in Proficiency in Albacete (ESP). Advanced • Based on skills and techniques in Proficiency Core • The pack is designed to be used as a Kat finished in 12th in the gymnastic competition portfolio women’s category with • 9 work cards depicting floor • Includes trampoline, and sequences, vault progressions and 98.83, followed closely by acrobatic disciplines containing 24 team mate Amanda in 13th body preparation exercises (for work cards with a selection of routines with 98.69. strength & flexibility) all with guidance (discipline packs can be purchased on developing skills separately) Nathan Bailey finished in • A DVD demonstrating the routines, • 3 DVDs demonstrating the routines and 12th in the men’s category common faults and corrections skills at each Step with 104.475 and Luke Strong in 46th with 45.385. • Colourful A2 size posters of the • Colourful A2 size posters depicting the sequences, vaults and exercises skills and sequences in the work cards At the Arosa World Cup in • Guidelines on how to judge, organise • Guidelines on how to judge, organise Amanda Parker and deliver the competitions including and deliver the competitions including finished in 6th place in the templates, letters, score sheets and templates, letters, score sheets and final having put in a superb apparatus layouts apparatus layouts personal best two-round total. for further details please contact: British Gymnastics Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Newport, Shropshire. TF10 9NB Gymnast 62 Tel 0845 129 7 129 ext 2355 Email [email protected] Registered in England No. 1630001 VAT Reg No. 207 9654 44 Comingwhat’s up July October 15 July 5 - 7 October 13 - 14 October FESTIVAL AEROBIC DISABILITY GymFusion South East 2012 British 13th Poole Open 2012 Guildford Spectrum, Championships Poole Sports Centre, Surrey Rivermead Leisure Dorset Centre, Reading 27 July - 12 August 19 - 21 October 13 - 14 October XXX OLYMPIC GAMES FESTIVAL 2012 Summer WOMEN’S ARTISTIC Gymnastics for All - Olympic Games Bill Slater Club Team London Festival 2012 London Championships The Brentwood Centre, Europa Centre, Kent Essex

13 - 14 October August RHYTHMIC National Open 29 August - 9 September Individual Apparatus Championships 2012 XIV PARALYMPIC GAMES Richard Dunn Sports 2012 Summer Centre, Bradford Paralympic Games London 13 - 14 October RHYTHMIC Round 1 National Group To search for the latest League 2012 event information, September Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Bradford including how to book No British Gymnastics tickets, visit events british-gymnastics.org

Gymnast 64