GB v ROM Senior Women's International
Most exciting Women’s International comes to
“Geordie Land”!
Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence
Newcastle upon Tyne, 26/2tth August 2006
Saturday 26th - Team Competition from 3pm
Sunday 27th - Individual apparatus from 2pm
The leading nation in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics,
Romania, (3 times Olympic and 7 times World Team Champions)
are coming to Britain to meet the GB National Team in a Friendly
International at the Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence
in Newcastle on 26/27 August 2006.
Both nations consider this event as an important checkpoint
in their preparation for the World Championships in Aarhus
(DEN), in October 2006.
After the Olympic Games in Athens, Romania have gone through
significant changes in their leadership and organisation of
work, and since the recent retirement of the triple Olympic
Champion Catalina Ponor, their team
now consists primarily of talented young gymnasts who will
play a vital role in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (CHN).
Sandra IZBASA (16), the 2006 European Champion on Floor and
Silver medallist in the All-around in Volos (GRE) seems to
be the most likely successor of Ponor. Steliana NISTOR (16),
the 2004 Junior European All-around and Floor Champion has
reasonable international experience compared to the rest of
the visiting team: Aluissa LACUSTEANU (14)– 2006 Junior
European Champion on Floor, Andreea GRIGORE (15) - 2006 Junior
European triple Silver medallist, Loredana SUCAR (16) and
Daniela DRUNCEA (15).
The two most experienced gymnasts in the British Team in
Newcastle will be the World, Commonwealth and European Finalist
on Vault Imogen CAIRNS (17) from The Academy G.C., Devon,
and Melanie ROBERTS (18) from the City of Liverpool G.C.,
who has a proven record of successful International participation.
Aisling WILLIAMS (16), also from Liverpool, has recovered
from her wrist injury and is now in her top form. Two stylish
gymnasts from Barry Girls G.C., Wales , Lynette LISLE (17)
and Olivia BRYL (18), are also included in the team, together
with the talented hopefuls Emma WHITE (16), the 2006 British
Champion on Vault from Huntingdon G.C., and Kerri UPTON (16)
from Dynamo, Southampton.
Elizabeth TWEDDLE (21), 2006 European Champion on A. Bars
will not be competing in Newcastle, but continues her preparation
for the World Championships.
NOTES
· Previous Friendly Meets between GBR and ROM (Women):
in 2001, 2002 and 2004
Romania:
· Three times Olympic (1984, 2000 and 2004) and seven
times World Team Champions (1979, 1987, 1994, 1995, 1997,
1999, 2001).
· Achievements at the last European Championships,
Volos, Greece, June 2006:
Team- Silver medal
All-around- Sandra Isbasha- Silver medal
Floor - Sandra Isbasha- European Champion
- Catalina Ponor- Bronze medal
Beam- Catalina Ponor- European Champion
- Sandra Isbasha- Bronze medal (=Marina Proskurina (UKR)
ROM Juniors- Volos 2006:
Team- Silver;
Andrea Grigore- Silver Beam & Floor;
Aluissa Lacusteanu- Gold Floor; Bronze Beam
Great Britain:
· Olympic Games- 10th Sydney 2000; World Championships-
9th Anaheim 2003; European Championships- 5th Amsterdam
· Achievements at the last European Championships,
Volos, Greece, June 2006:
Team- 7th place
A. Bars- Beth Tweddle- European Champion
Vault- Imogen Cairns- 8th place
All-around- Imogen Cairns- 10th place
GBR Juniors- Volos 2006:
Team- 5th
Laura Jones- 5th Beam
Rebecca Downie- 6th Floor
|
