Rhythmic Gymnastics News
The weekend could bring a few surprises!
The Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton-upon-Trent keeps the
tradition - once again it will open its doors to the British
Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, on Sat,12th and Sun, 13th
November 2005, to see gymnasts from all over the country competing
for the medals and the titles in U10, U12, Junior and Senior
Age Groups.
“With a number of top level gymnasts having retired
in the end of the 2004 Olympic season, a new generation has
rushed into the spotlight and these Championships will give
us excellent opportunity to assess our potential for the future
and build our strategy on how to continue our progress”,
said the National Coach Nadia Alexandrova.
For many of the gymnasts the competition in Burton will be
an important checking point in their preparation for the first
major event in the next season , the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in March, in Melbourne.
SENIORS:
 Expect
very tight competition for the title between the 2004 British
Silver medallist Heather Mann (Southview) and Rachel Ennis
(Hillingdon), who did not take part in the Championships last
year. Both of them made their debut in the World Championships
in Baku (AZE) a month ago, and are now the most experienced
Rhythmic gymnasts in the country.
There will be five gymnasts competing as Seniors for the
first time, they are Hannah Chappell (City of Coventry), Francesca
Jones (Nene Valley),the two Scottish girls, Ayleen Forfar
(West Lothian) and Magalie Mackay (Beacon) and Natasha Small
(Portsmouth). However this will not deter them from being
hot on the heels of Heather Mann, and Rachel Ennis.
JUNIORS:
Francesca Fox (City of Bath), Natalie Wilton (St. Helens)
and the British-Canadian Rosie Cossar (West Lothian, Scotland)
are seen as major contenders for the title, but surprises
could come from Sally Davies (Llanelli) and Becky Izzard (Stockport).
UNDER 12:
This is the age group where the challenge for the prizes will
be the toughest: Rachel Smith (City of Coventry), Maria Popova
and Mercedes Pegado (Spelthorne), the last year U10 Champion
Annabel Jones (Llanelli), Kezi Gore and Saskia Barnard (both
from Canterbury) could all step on the rostrum.
UNDER 10:
Most difficult to predict is the group of the youngest gymnasts
in Burton, since the majority of the gymnasts will compete
in the British Championships for the first time, while last
years’ medallists have moved to the upper age group.
Best known prior to the Championships are the names of Aimee
Marsh (St. Helens), Laura Halford (Swindon) and Amy Barbour
(Aberdeen), but many of the other 13 young contenders could
and will enlarge this List in the end of the competition.
An Official announcement of the new Sponsorship of British
Rhythmic Gymnastics from LG Electronics is expected to take
place during the Championships. This timely support is, indeed,
very much appreciated, especially after the drastic cuts in
the Lottery Funding of Rhythmic Gymnastics, an Olympic discipline
since 1984.
“This year's British Championships, sponsored by LG
Electronics, will be very much an 'open' contest The weekend
promises to be very interesting and could bring a few surprises”,
summarized Joan Black, President of the RG Technical Committee.
LG Electronics are proud to be official sponsors of British
Gymnastics and specifically to the British Rhythmic Gymnastics
Squad. The seven-year sponsorship deal is designed to support
the team in the run up to the Olympics in 2012.
For more information visit www.lge.co.uk
Competition Programme:
Saturday, 12th November- Overall Championships- 10.00am-5.00pm
Sunday, 13 November - Apparatus Finals- 11.15am-4.00pm
Tickets:
One Day Ticket: Adults £8.50, Concession £5.00
Two Day Ticket: Adults £12.50, Concession £7.50
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