Elite gymnasts shine at Bristol international

While their club mates were competing in the National Development Plan Prelims, 10 of Honiton’s elite gymnasts were turning heads at the Bristol International Acrobatic Gymnastics competition, taking a gold, two silvers and a bronze.

In the 12-18 age group, despite making mistakes in their final routine, Adam Fullick and Megan Jones took gold in the mixed pair event. They were ahead of Sean Kingston and Megan Cross, who took bronze, and current British bronze medallists Charlotte Beviss and Josh Jackson who took fourth.

Consistent men’s pair partnership Buster Tutcher and Ashley Wallis turned in three excellent performances in the 12-18 men’s pairs competition to finish in silver behind the current European Age Group Champions from Heathrow, while Lauren Davey and Phoebe Simeons finished seventh in the 11-16 women’s pair competition.

“It was a steady first competition of the 2014 season for all the partnerships,” said high performance coach James Reddy, “and the ideal preparation for them in advance of the British Championships. With three weeks to go before they compete in the UK’s biggest competition they may all have made mistakes, but each partnership now has clear objectives and they know exactly what they have to work on in order to improve their performances and scores.

“The step up in level for them all this year has been very difficult, as they’ve had to learn more complex moves, learn and perform an additional ‘combined’ routine, and perform skills that require more strength, fitness and precision. Although the next four weeks of preparation will be very tough, we’re confident that they will all lift their games and do themselves proud at the British Championships.”

The British Championships is also the pre-qualification competition for the World Championship trials, with only the top two partnerships in the country being eligible to trial (providing they are judged to have reached the tough qualification score).

The British Championships will be held in Stoke on Trent, at the end of March.