MAY 2011

BRITISH GYMNASTICS OFFICIAL MAGAZINE

MATTHEW GREENWOOD 2012 OLYMPIC GYMNASTICS COMPETITION MANAGER INTERVIEW

BETH TWEDDLE EUROPEAN CHAMPION Warm-Up

MAY 2011

he ‘Golden Era’ of continued in and with more outstanding results as retained her European uneven bars title followed six days later by Daniel PurvisT winning the all-around gold medal in Glasgow, beating the new European Champion Philipp Boy in the process. Daniel is fast becoming a world star having finished fifth in last year’s worlds and winning bronze in Berlin. also gave notice in Berlin of his outstanding potential, just missing an individual medal on the high bar.

This month will see the FIG Council meeting in San Jose award the 2015 World Championships. It will come as no surprise that a strong bid has been presented by the city of Glasgow and our thoughts and best wishes will travel with our bid team in the hope of a positive outcome for the sport and the city of Glasgow.

For the second year running, the UEG Trampoline Training Camp for coaches will take place at Gillingham. Facilities such as those in Gillingham have been crucial to the development of gymnastics in recent years. But where will future funding come from with rising costs in a complex financial climate?

The Government in recent months published what is known as the Localism Bill. It is aimed at increasing resources at the grass roots level by giving power to professionals and communities to create better services and outcomes. This new legislation has incredible benefit to our sport as we continue to signal the need for new facilities to house our sport.

At the same time, new planning guidance is emerging to replace PPG 17 ‘Sport & Recreation’. I am ensuring that representation and input is being made to the appropriate agencies and will endeavour to ensure our interests and those of the sport are met.

In the coming weeks I will be attending many BG Championships and hope that you continue to enjoy our wonderful sport of gymnastics. Paul Garber President British Gymnastics UEG Vice President

[email protected] 0845 1297129 www.british-gymnastics.org 3 Contents VOLUME 49 GymFusion has begun! Page 6 ISSUE 4 p17 Managing Editor CONTENTS MARK YOUNG [email protected] 6 2011 GLASGOW WORLD CUP Feature EditorS DAN PURVIS CLAIMS GOLD TIM PEAKE, OLIVIA HOWARD [email protected] ‘CHALK TALK’ Page 13 13 ONLY 14 MONTHS TO GO JEFF DAVIS MatthEW GREENWOOD INTERVIEW [email protected] Design 17 GYMFUSION IS HERE JOANNE RICHARDS, A SPECTACULAR DEBUT KATHY-ANN DAVIES, MARK YOUNG BGtv 27 CHALK TALK GARETH FINCHETT, TRICIA HASTINGS CLOSING THE SHOULDERS & MORE [email protected] Advertising GEORGE MILLER, 32 ROUND UP Cabbell Publishing Ltd, NEWS FROM HOME AND ABROAD Woodman Works, 204 Durnsford Road, Page 17 , SW19 8DR Tel: 0208 971 8463 Fax: 0208 971 8480 37 RESULTS [email protected] RESULTS, PHOTOS AND REPORTS Published by British Gymnastics, 39 WHAT’S COMING UP! Ford Hall, Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 9NB EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR Tel: 0845 1297129 Copyright © 2011. Published by The British Amateur Gymnastics Association. Fax: 0845 1249089 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored Registered in No. 1630001 in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without written permission VAT Reg. No. 207 9654 44 of British Gymnastics. www.british-gymnastics.org

Identification and naming of individual gymnasts on printed photographs is determined by the information received and therefore cannot be guaranteed British Gymnastics Official Photographer: for accuracy. ALAN EDWARDS

The views expressed by the individual contributors are not necessarily those www.sports-photo.co.uk of British Gymnastics. Equally the inclusion of advertisements in this magazine does not constitute endorsement by British Gymnastics of the products or British Gymnastics Official Photo Partner: services concerned. British Gymnastics is unable to recommend any product, DE PHOTO guarantee that it is free of any banned substance or take any responsibility for SUBSCRIBE TO THE LATEST news from 4 any claims of effectiveness. www.dephoto.biz British Gymnastics with our RSS feeds 5 2011 Glasgow World Cup

Dan Purvis celebrates gold with Philipp Boy (GER) silver, and Rafael Martinez (ESP) bronze Glasgow World Cup {2011 lasgow is one of only four cities hosting the newly revamped FIG World Cup all-around events, the new spectator-focused formatG saw the world’s top 8 gymnasts battle it out over two sessions: the men’s and women’s all-around finals on Saturday 16th April, with close to capacity crowds flocking to the Kelvin Hall for both.

The men’s event promised an intriguing battle with recently crowned European Champion Philipp Boy up against Olympic Jonathon Horton medallist , ­5th at the World Sam Hunter Championships, 9th in the World Championships and Daniel Keatings the returning - competing as a wildcard.

The women’s event was harder to pick with 16 year old Romanian’s Raluca Haidu Amelia Racea and Elisabeth Amelia Racea (ROU) gold alongside ’s Seitz Jessica Lopez Jessica Lopez (VEN) silver and , with Hannah Whelan Jenni Pinches Raluca Haidu (ROU) bronze and in the line up for GBR. 6 7 Glasgow2011 Glasgow World World Cup Preview Cup

Men - Overall Standings

1 PURVIS Daniel ­ 88.598 2 BOY Philipp 88.498 3 MARTINEZ Rafael ­ 88.065 4 KUKSENKOV Mykola ­ 86.832 5 SHATILOV Alexander ­ 86.331 6 TOMMASONE Cyril ­ 86.298 7 HORTON Jonathan ­ 85.131 8 HUNTER Sam ­ 85.099 WILDCARD KEATINGS Daniel ­ 87.366

Watch Daniel at the 2011 Glasgow World Cup... Philipp Boy GER

Sam Hunter men... who shares the British Dan Purvis title with , finished in 8th Purvis takes position just behind Olympic medallist Jonathan Horton Daniel , whilst wildcard { the Gold! Keatings (GBR) put in a very promising performance - 87.366. The men’s competition contained a lot of experienced gymnasts that all had the potential to take home a medal. Dan Purvis (GBR) gave a superb clean I’m really pleased although it was a bit of a shock to performance throughout to claim the " be honest! Coming back from the Euros I just wanted Gold medal in front of a supportive home crowd and maintain his position to have fun but I managed some clean routines and as one of the worlds very best all- came first. It’ll be straight back to training now. I’ve Dan Purvis GBR around gymnasts. Purvis was closely followed by the recently crowned still got quite a few competitions coming up so my Philipp Boy European Champion, (GER), aim is to just keep fit and at the same time continue whose fall on vault cost him the title. Rafael Martinez to compete well. The bronze went to Dan Purvis from Spain who performed some exciting routines to please the crowd. " 8 9 Glasgow World Cup 2011

Amelia Racea ROU

Women... Racea is the women’s { Champion The women’s event took place in front of a sell out crowd in the Kelvin Hall arena. There were some strong contenders in the group but with a lot of falls counted, the medal places Racea were fought right to the finish. (ROU) took the top spot after a clean all-around performance showing Lopez composure throughout. (VEN) took the silver medal position with consistent scores on all pieces. The Haidu young Romanian grabbed the bronze despite two falls, performing an energetic routine to secure her Hannah place in the top 3. Britain’s Whelan finished in 5th, with some good work but unfortunate falls that Jennifer left her outside the medals. Pinches finished in 8th, she ended with a solid performance on floor but earlier mistakes proved to be costly. Women - Overall Standings

1 RACEA Amelia ­ 54.566 2 LOPEZ Jessica ­ 53.931 3 HAIDU Raluca ­ 52.432 4 SEITZ Elisabeth ­ 52.232 5 WHELAN Hannah ­ 52.132 6 STEINGRUBER Giulia ­ 52.032 7 MILLOUSI Vasiliiki ­ 51.799 8 PINCHES Jennifer ­ 51.300 Jessica Lopez VEN 10 xxxxx xxxx Matthew Greenwood

The Olympic Stadium is complete

ext summer the biggest sporting event in the world Ncomes to London! Gymnasts and gymnastics fans have talked about little else since London was announced as the host city of the 2012 .

The Games not only showcase the finest athletes in the world, it also gives the chance for Britain to excel in the delivery of the events and demonstrate how good a show we Tim Peake Matthew Greenwood can put on. spoke to , who is on secondment from British Gymnastics as the Gymnastics Competition Manager for 2012... 13 Matthew Greenwood

Matthew, can you tell us how you How much of a help was it having the How key is it that British Gymnastics began in gymnastics and came to take 2009 Artistic World Championships in resources and expertise are used in the on the role at LOCOG? the Olympic venue? preparation for the Games?

I began my involvement in the sport It was a huge advantage for us to have We have people like Ben Murphy and as a gymnast - and not a particularly run the Worlds in 2009 in the arena Nicky Richards on board who have good one! I then moved on to coaching that the Olympics will be in, and to a experience and know-how of major and eventually volunteered with British great extent, in terms of layout and use events so we aren’t short of experts Gymnastics to the position of Men’s of the space things will stay much the and clearly we feel they should be used. Technical Committee National Events same. We learnt a lot from the Worlds Also, from a legacy point of view, we Organiser. I was then studying sports in terms of what works and what can be are all learning from being involved science at Leeds Carnegie and a position improved and above all we saw what a with LOCOG and we will certainly be came up with BG as Methodology and great atmosphere can be created in that feeding that back into the sport once Sports Science Coordinator in 1997. arena. Once you add the Olympic factor the Games have finished. It’s important to that I’m sure it will be an incredible we recognise those people who have Quickly after that lottery funding began event! given so much to the sport in the past, so I spent time working on the first not only staff but also volunteers who plans for a World Class Programme for years have been the backbone of Matthew Greenwood and this led me to become Technical the sport. I’m very much behind as Manage. In 2003 I became Technical Rhythmic gymnastics is being held at many of these people as possible can and Performance Director which then, Wembley Arena. How satisfied are you get involved when the biggest show in in 2008, led to the current opportunity town comes to London. at LOCOG being presented to me. I saw that this will work out well? it as great opportunity but really didn’t innovative ideas we have in terms of want to leave BG so I talked closely to Wembley Arena is slightly further out, event presentation, but ultimately all BG Management about being seconded but it is a great venue that has hosted Less than 500 days to go, how excited this is done to set up the stage for the and it was great that they agreed, and many major events including the are you getting and what do you think gymnasts and not wanting to be to we’ve gone on from there. badminton World Championships in partisan - the British gymnasts! August. We will get a great atmosphere the experience will be like for you? as it’s quite a compact arena with 6,500 There have been some terrific results So what is a Competition Manager? people getting a really good view of the I’m starting to get more excited as we by British gymnasts in recent years and action. get closer. There was a long period of admittedly for me that would be the My role at BG involved everything from time when it was continuous planning icing on the cake if we also had British ticketing to transport. At LOCOG I am We have been working very hard to and now, with less than 500 days to go, success in London. more specific to technical matters and ensure the conditions are favourable for we are moving more into the delivery working closely with the FIG. I then link the gymnasts so I firmly believe it will stage which is what I like to do. The Once it all begins it will be hectic with to all the other aspects, from athletes turn out to be fantastic for the rhythmic excitement is definitely building ahead no time to think, but for me, once the village requirements to travel event. of the test event – roll on January 2012! event is finished is when I will sit back routes.There are 85 different and look at what I’ve achieved. So, it departments in total try and mesh I’m confident we will have full arenas will be the week after when I can really together! for all competitions and that sets enjoy it! the scene with the crowd generating 14 the atmosphere, along with some 15 GymFusion

isis here!here!

The National Festivals programme from British Gymnastics was launched on Saturday 9th April 2011 with great success... 16 17 StarGymFusion... of the Future be inspired, get involved! Regional Events Event Date Venue

North 2nd July 2011 Spennymoor Leisure Centre, Durham

Yorkshire 10th July 2011 Boston Spa School, Wetherby

South East 17th July 2011 K2 Leisure Centre, Crawley

Northern Ireland 15th October 2011 TBC

East Midlands 23rd October 2011 New College, Leicester

South West 21st January 2012 Wellsprings SC, Taunton

South 22nd January 2012 Basingstoke Gymnastics Club

West Midlands 29th January 2012 Campus, Wolverhampton Uni

East 5th February 2012 Ipswich, Suffolk

GymFusion launch video North West 12th February 2012 Sport City, Manchester

Enter one or enter all ten! You must be a bronze member of British Gymnastics to take n the glorious sunshine part. Full details of each event, including entry deserves. Display teams from across opening and closing dates, will be posted on Iover 300 participants the country had the audience on the the GymFusion section of the BG website, in the edge of their seats as they performed Gymnast magazine and through GymBlast. took part in the outside their spectacular routines to a packed event that spanned across out crowd. Nottingham City Centre. DE Photo and BGtv covered the event so look out for a full blog of the day The Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, and all the video footage coming soon and a huge marquee in the very on the BG website. heart of Nottingham’s Old Market Square, played host to a total of 41 GymFusion has made a mark on performances throughout the day Nottingham and now the tour from local Nottinghamshire and begins… Ten dates are now set East Midlands display teams. The across the Country giving you teams really showed the Nottingham the opportunity to be inspired shoppers the vast opportunities and to get involved. Don’t forget that gymnastics has to offer. In the GymFusion is open to all - it’s a Nottingham Albert Hall, GymFusion true celebration of our great sport. was launched with all the dazzle, sparkle and wow factor that our sport 18 be inspired, get involved! 19 GymFusion... be inspired, get involved!

The British Gymnastics Proficiency resources provide the foundation for developing high quality gymnastics skills and are used widely in clubs, schools and leisure centres. They comprise: pre-school, core, advanced, trampoline and cheerleading skills.

These inclusive and progressive resources have been developed by the coach and education professionals of British Gymnastics (the UK NGB) in consultation with expert practitioners and are designed for use by coaches and teachers. These resources are endorsed by the Association for Physical Education (afPE), underpin the teaching of gymnastics within the National Curriculum and can be used for both curriculum teaching and extended school provision.

» Provides a sound framework for the progressive development of core skills such as balance, strength, flexibility, co-ordination, fitness, pulse-raising activities » A DVD providing teaching examples » Rewards available in the form of badges, certificates and medal

Pre-school » pre-school Suitable for pre-school children from 3 years » Built on the fundamental building blocks “A”,”B”,“C” - Action, Balance and Coordination » 40 activities and 3 levels of reward Core » Suitablecore for children of primary school age and above » Includes 10 types of activity and 8 levels of attainment with 40 work cards » Provides an excellent entry into first level competitions, including Key Step Advanced »advanced Suitable for children of secondary school age and below » Offers a menu of activities including: Core Fitness, Floor, Vault & Rebound, Apparatus, Pairs and Groups, Hand Held Apparatus, Dance and Aerobics » 3 levels of attainment with 75 work cards » Broadly underpins development work for Grades and National Development Plans Trampoline » Suitabletrampoline for children of pre-school age and above » 15 levels of attainment with 27 work cards » Links into the Next Step Trampoline Competition Resource

cheerleading» Suitable for children from 5 years and above » 9 levels of attainment with 44 work cards for Cheer and Pom Dance » Links into the Next Step Cheerleading Competition Resource » Step by step development of choreography, vocals, jumps, tumbles, stunts and fitness » Developed in conjunction with the Cheerleading Association (UKCA)

For more information or to order contact: Gymnastics Enterprises Ltd, Unit 1, Lilleshall Hall Farm, Newport, Shropshire TF10 9AS Tel: 0845 1297129 ext 2355 Fax: 01952 822456 20 Or order direct on the British Gymnastics website - www.british-gymnastics.org ©British Gymnastics 2009 Report - Benefiting from the Cuts

Andy Wood MBE, Pipers Vale BenefiTing from the Cuts

he recession and Growing Schools Tthe Comprehensive Delivery Spending Review Since the CSR, the ring-fenced (CSR) have made a funding for school sport has been huge impact with significantly reduced. Schools however, still receive funding to increased costs, deliver activities and now there unemployment and is more freedom to choose what government cut backs. to spend it on. The reduction in funding has lead to the loss of staff However, in all the working in school sport. There is surrounding gloom, now a gap in specialist deliverers Pipers Vale Out-reach gets the name of some gymnastics of sport in schools and this has the club out there... I would clubs have seized provided clubs with an opportunity “ to increase the amount of schools Case Study suggest that the name of key opportunities and delivery they offer. Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club in Ipswich Pipers Vale is now in the are utilising them to run an extensive schools programme expand and grow. Some gymnastics clubs have taken including, curriculum time coaching, after- majority of households the opportunity to fill this gap school clubs, teacher training, festivals and and have increased their delivery competitions. Sessions take place within across Ipswich. This work in schools, helping to bring in schools and at the club’s dedicated facility. Following the CSR two of the new income streams and widen has allowed us to market to most significant changes affecting participation opportunities a huge audience and brings gymnastics have been the reduction Sessions are delivered to pupils in Reception classes through to Key Stage 4 in funding for the School Sport One such club that is benefiting in new customers which in Partnerships and the situation in and since September 2010 over 5000 pupils from delivering in schools is Pipers have taken part in gymnastics delivered by turn brings in extra income. Local Authority run sports facilities, Vale in Ipswich: where hall hire prices are increasing the club. The programme was originally ” or centres are being closed. set up and developed through the links the Andy Wood MBE club had with the Local Authority Sports Pipers Vale Development Team and has taken some 22 time to fully establish. 23 Report - Benefiting from the Cuts

Facility Asset Transfers leisure centre, the club is regularly being ‘bumped’ out of the hall to accommodate As Local Authorities look to close down other events. This new facility will allow facilities to save money or begin to look the club to grow and develop. at alternative ways to operate, some gymnastics clubs are benefiting from ‘Asset Transfers’. In an Asset Transfer, The asset transfer is a club would take on the running of a Local Authority facility and potentially “ providing us with a fantastic turn this into a dedicated gymnastics and cost effective way facility. of achieving our goal of There are many clubs currently looking developing a dedicated at developing their own facilities and trampoline centre. The often the main barrier to doing this is the cost of building. As local facilities new facility will help us to such as sport and community centres expand; clearing waiting are closing down, communities are lists and get more people being left with facilities that could be ideally suited for clubs to utilise as a participating in the sport. gymnastics facility. We are very keen to improve access for those with To help support clubs with asset transfers, Sport England have developed disabilities and pre-school a toolkit with information and guidance. but were restricted to available times in To access this toolkit local authority leisure

Recoil Twisters Trampoline Club, centres. Brentwood, have recently been ” transferred the asset of a local community centre that they are Tricia developing into a dedicated trampoline Johnston centre. Recoil Twisters TC

Recoil Twisters TC The current financial climate is making Case Study life harder for many clubs, prices are increasing and parents are finding it Recoil Twisters TC are currently going more difficult to pay fees. However, through the asset transfer process amongst this adversity, there are some that will see them convert a disused key opportunities for clubs to explore and community centre into a dedicated benefit from. trampoline centre with eight sunken beds. Schools delivery and ‘Asset Transfer’ are The club have been desperately looking just two examples of how clubs have for a new venue. Currently based in a taken advantage of the current climate. 24 Chalk Talk

by Jeff Davis

Conditioning for gymnastics: Continuing with our series of articles on conditioning, this month we look at exercises to strengthen the action of closing the shoulders.

efore embarking on this month’s result being failure. It is important to realise Bseries of exercises which cover the that this is due to a deficiency in strength action of ‘closing’ the shoulders, lets and not technique. For instance, an upstart mid section closure look briefly at the basis of this approach on the bar demonstrates to conditioning. Each gymnastic skill can and shoulder closure. be broken down into a few basic body movements. If the coach can understand this It is a very useful way of making a gymnasts and perform this process then it becomes conditioning as relevant as possible. Apart obvious what needs to be strengthened to from those we have already covered other improve that skill. Too often gymnasts try movement patterns include mid section opening arm thrust support thrust to perform skills without sufficient strength , , and in one of the key movement patterns, the body tension.

The term ‘closing’ is used to describe the movement of the shoulders in a particular direction. If the arms are moved from directly above the head downwards past the hips and backwards, this whole range of movement is described as closing. First in the range of exercises is the trolley trainer: These exercises should be done in sets of 8 – 10 and repeated 3 times minimum.

Exercise 1: Sitting upright facing upwards. The arms should be kept straight and there should be no movement of the back. If the gymnast has to hollow the back to move, then the trolley height should be taken down or assistance given.

27 Chalk Talk

Exercise 2: On floor: The gymnast performs a pull up or chin on the bar and then Exercise 5: extends the body forwards to This exercise has been christened front planche, returning back to ‘the Russian Bum Walk’ in our the ‘chin’ position. This is quite gym, for obvious reasons. The an advanced exercise and may feet shouldn’t touch the floor and well need support with younger the gymnast should cover 8 – 10 performers. Sets of 5 – 10 metres up to 3 times. depending on level of strength.

The next group are on the bar: Using wall bars: Exercise 6: Exercise 3: The gymnast starts from lying on From a pike position under the his or her back holding a wall bar bar with the ankles next to the approx 20cm off the floor, lifting bar, the gymnast extends the with a straight body into shoulder body keeping the legs as close stand and back. At all times the to the bar as possible and then body should be as straight as returns to the original pike. Once possible. With younger or weaker again, young performers might performers start in shoulder need assistance to ensure good stand and lower to lie, lift back style and technique. Sets of 5 – with pike. Sets of 8 – 10. 10.

This range of exercises is by no means exhaustive and I’m sure you Exercise 4: can come up with many others to enhance the training programme. Straddle leg lift. The gymnast It is good to alternate exercises to starts in half lever hanging under maintain interest in the performers the bar and pulls the legs back to and cover all possibilities. a deep straddle fold. Legs should be straight at all times and the Turn the page for head should be kept in. Sets of 8 – 10. Trampoline travelling skills... 28 29 Chalk Talk

by Jack Kelly masked when using the arms. Ask the gymnast to notice the inevitable PRESSING THE forward and backward (and potentially sideways) travel. Draw attention to the cause of the travel RIGHT BUTTONS and ask the gymnast to “feel” the tiny amounts of topple causing the problem. 2. Repeat the drill and ask the gymnast to notice every time they leave the Every trampoline The gymnast must be made aware that, target area, recognise the direction coach will agree when on the floor or trampoline... of the inadvertent topple then that the skill of Performing the forward travel respond by taking two controlled • In order to travel forward, they must drill using the three areas. jumps, reversing the direction straight jumping initially topple off balance in that of topple until the target area is is the basis of all direction. To travel backward, the regained. initial topple is backward. • So if the gymnast needs to make a 3. successful competitive correction backwards or forwards, Now designate three areas, one just performance. • This may be followed by a step, jump, they must press the appropriate behind the cross, the cross itself roll, tumble etc. topple-button, but this time on and the third one just in front of purpose. the cross. The gymnast jumps five My experience is that we should judge • To travel forward or back when jumps in area one (still keeping the genuine belief in this statement by straight jumping on the trampoline, My experience is that all the above is arms strictly by the side) followed actions and not words. Rarely do I see the gymnast must therefore topple simply assumed by trampoline coaches by two transition jumps to move trampolinists undertaking the quality and off balance (either on purpose or by and rarely communicated to the forward to the cross. Perform volume of work that the skill requires. mistake). gymnasts. They don’t know what button five jumps on the cross before to press because no-one made them repeating the two jump transition I hope too, that most coaches would • This action can only take place during aware, resulting in massive irritation and forward to area three where a final agree with this statement… we don’t contact with the bed! time wasting as the gymnast becomes five jumps are performed. teach our gymnasts to perform skills frustrated because “I can’t get my • The gymnast’s perception, that 4. but rather we enable them to learn and Repeat the drill but start on area positional corrections are made in the jumping right!”. in doing so, help them to acquire an three, moving backwards to the understanding of which “buttons to air may have to be addressed. Man Here are a number of drills designed cross then to area one. press” and when to press them. That cannot fly! (nor, indeed, can woman!) to make gymnasts aware of the effect said, my recent experience with groups of “topple” on lateral movement during Once the gymnast is aware and of competitive trampolinists, has shown Now to press the buttons... straight jumping, thereby enabling able to press the right buttons at a worrying lack of understanding among the right time, then a full jumping • If the gymnast finds their position on them to press the right buttons when coaches and therefore their gymnasts, technique can be used to perform the bed to be in front of where they adjustments are required. about the “buttons to press” when the drills. Remember: It is not the control of pre–routine jumping is being want to be. “You accidentally pressed 1. From a standing start, with arms drills themselves which develop compromised. It gives me no satisfaction the topple-forward button!” held straight against the sides, the skill, it is the way in which to make this criticism unless I can offer • If the gymnast finds their position on perform fifteen jumps on a specified the coach uses them to enhance some remedy, so here goes. I hope the bed to be behind where they want target area, gradually increasing in the gymnast’s awareness and you will forgive the kindergarten-like to be. “You accidentally pressed the height. This exposes the gymnast appropriate decision making. simplicity of my initial approach! topple-back button!” to the effect of minor imbalances 30 during bed contact which could be 31 Round-Up APRIL 2011...

The Artistic European Championships was the 'main event' of April, held in Berlin the championships were viewed as a chance for gymnasts to try out their new routines ahead of a key year.

Kristian Thomas Just prior to departure the and the floor - and in Sam Oldham British men’s European team his first senior major, the finished their preparation high bar final. in style by taking the lion’s share of the medals in a 5-way warm The men’s all-around final was first up... Kristian Thomas up friendly in Dessau. For a fall from parallel scoring 90.150 led the all-around jointly bars, his 5th piece costing dear and Philipp Boy Dan with Germany’s , with putting him in 11th place. Purvis in 3rd. landing his last tumble for 7th place; Kristian Thomas meanwhile produced While over in Berlin the British Junior Frank Baines a great routine to end his week on a team of , , Beth Tweddle once Dan Purvis high and 4th spot.On pommel there was and took again wrote her name producing the goods despair for as competing a the Gold at the International Junior Team high difficulty routine he slipped after into the gymnastics Cup. on his final piece, the a great start and falls, to see his medal history books with floor, which combined The Euros began on April 6th with the chance drift away. her third consecutive Beth Tweddle with a consistent, women’s qualifications - The last day of the European bars title having won safely navigated her way through to clean performance Championship in Berlin saw 3 more in 2010 in make the bars and floor final and put over all 6 pieces finals for the British gymnasts. herself in contention to take both and 2009 in . The brought him a superb Beth Tweddle titles as she has done at the past two went for her third floor 26 year-old continues Hannah Whelan Europeans. made the all-around bronze! title in a row just fell short- an injury to produce stunning beam final scoring and also made the that plagued her preparation limiting Danusia Sam Oldham performances on all-around final - along with her tumbling. , in his Francis first major senior competition was the big stage and . Hannah Whelan In the women’s event agonisingly close to the medals in 4th; unleashed a brand new The following day was the men’s fell early on bars to set her back and he produced a superb performance to routine on the Berlin qualifications and a spectacular day for finished 13th whilst be pushed out by the very last routine of the British boys resulting in six finals. crowd to take the title. Dan Purvis Kristian Thomas competed cleanly for 16th. the whole championship, still a terrific and well Hannah Whelan Louis result for Sam! on placed for all-around final, while On to the apparatus finals Smith Dan Purvis Dan Purvis beam, the first beam final for a British made the pommel, In the men’s floor was unable gymnast in 9 years, finished in 8th. 32 to relive his past glories with problems 33 Round-Up... What's happened around the rest of the world...

Muchollowing further thea field Euros at camethe Doha the Jocelyn ChallengerGlasgow Cup Grand in Qatar, Prix (see page Over in , Hunt 6) whileF made elsewhere both the the Beam British and team Floor of a jubilant Adam Frankfinals Baines taking theDominick Bronze Cunningham on Floor scoringJay , Danielle , McAssey and Thompson13.250 alongCourtney with Brazil’s Tulloch Nile Wilson Hypolito , , Edward Upcott and Anthony. Wise, despite all being under 16, took the gold in the under-18 continued their International in Sarreguemine, winning way with and the British WAG Development Squad victory in the men's flew to Dijon for their first overseas pairs at the acrobatic training camp! World Cup in Puur's Much further afield at the Doha while Alanna Baker Challenger Cup in Qatar, Jocelyn and Poppy Spalding Hunt made both the beam and also took the bronze in floor finals taking the bronze on floor scoring 13.250 along with Brazil’s the women's pairs... Danielle Hypolito. Christopher Rogers Amber and Campbell-White finished 5th Casey Morrison Liliana and , Walduck Hollianne Wood , - 4th. Adam McAssey & Edward Upcott In trampolining, Emma Smith took silver and Bryony Finally, in the rhythmic world, several Page and Laura Gallagher individuals were sent on overseas bronze at the Varna World Cup assignments looking to gain experience ahead of a busy year in Bulgaria... with the European Championships coming up in May. Laura Halford made the ball final at the Orange Irina Deleanu Trophy in Bucharest Emma continues to show her strength on the world finishing 6th in the final with stage by taking the silver medal and also equaled the Frankie Jones Bryony 22.100 whilst world record difficulty competing a 15.6 tariff. Page Laura Gallagher finished 9th in the senior all- and took the bronze medal in around at the 24th Tournoi the synchro final, and in doing so they made history for International de Gymnastique women’s synchro by competing two triple somersaults Rhythmique du Pas de Calais with which has never been competed before. Stephani Sherlock , Kat Driscoll also made the finals but unfortunately making her debut for made some errors in her individual routine but she still GBR, also making the managed to finish a very credible 5th. Laura Halford ball final in the junior competition. 34 Emma Smith 35 results

event results photos report MAG Glasgow World WAG Cup GLASGOW, 16 April 2011 MAG WAG

MAG European Artistic WAG Championships BERLIN, GER, 6-10 April 2011

GG Southern TeamGym Championships BRACKNELL, 26-27 March 2011

MAG GBR vs FRA Men's Artistic IPSWICH, 26 March 2011

SCH BSGA Championships NEWCASTLE, 27 March 2011

Keep checking www.british-gymnastics.org for the latest results, Keep checking www.british-gymnastics.org for the latest results and reports 37 Parting Shot... may 2011 what’s 7th TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS Northern Ireland Gala coming up! Newtownabbey County Antrim 7th RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS Club Team Championships Walsall Sports Centre West Midlands June 2011 7th MEN’S ARTISTIC 4th WOMEN’S ARTISTIC Elite Grades Espoir Championship & Challenge Cup New College, Leicester Guildford Spectrum, Surrey 7th TEAMGYM 4th TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS British Championships North Gala 2011 GL1 Leisure Centre, Gloucester Temple Park Leisure Centre Tyne & Wear 8th MEN’S ARTISTIC Regional Team Voluntary 17th MEN’S AND WOMEN’S ARTISTIC New College, Leicester Pegasus Open 2011 Pegasus Gym Club, Kent 8th MEN’S ARTISTIC Challenge Setwork 24th Rhythmic GYMNASTICS New College, Leicester British Championships Fenton Manor, Stoke-on-Trent 14th MEN’S ARTISTIC Parting Shot Setwork Finals (Club & Regional) 25th NATIONAL CLUB Conference GMAC, Birmingham National Club Conference & Awards The International Centre, Telford Jenni Pinches in action on floor 15th GMPD Trampoline South West Qualifier at the Glasgow World Cup Bath

21st Acrobatic & Tumbling Gymnastics NDP Finals (inc. GMPD) Fenton Manor, Stoke on Trent

21th WOMEN’S ARTISTIC British Team Championships Guildford Spectrum, Surrey

24th RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS 27th European Championships Minsk, For all the latest 27th TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS 4 Nations. GBR vs GER vs FRA vs POR NEWS... Somerset www.british-gymnastics.org Follow us on Facebook! 38 39