British Rhythmic Championship 2006
Seven new Champions in a new venue for British Rhythmic
Gymnastics
The 2006 British Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held at
the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke-on Trent, over the
weekend 17/18 November, marked a new stage of the development
of this Olympic discipline in the country.
 Ayleen
Forfar (Alan Edwards)
An abundance of talent and a tight challenge was seen in all
seven of the age groups culminating in the Senior contest
where the 16-year old Francesca Jones from Nene Valley won
the Overall title for the first time by mere 0.082, in a spectacular
dual against Heather Mann (Southview). To prove this has not
happened by chance, she then added to this the Gold medals
on Rope, Ball and Clubs, in the Apparatus Finals, with Heather
winning the title on Ribbon.
 Francesca
Jones (Alan Edwards)
Other convincing performers included Francesca Fox (City of
Bath), sweeping all the five available medals at the Junior
level (Overall, Rope, Hoop, Clubs and Ribbon); Kezi Gore (City
of Canterbury), who took all the Gold in the U12 contest (Overall,
Rope, Ball and Clubs) and Laura Halford (Esprit), unbeaten
in the U10 group (Overall, Rope and Hoop).
Kezi’s sister Jael Gore won two Gold medals in the
U9’s first appearance (Overall and Free routine), with
the Hoop Gold going to Nikara Jenkins (Llanelli). The Welsh
also celebrated the U 11 Overall title and the Gold on Ball
of Rachel Maguire . The title on Rope in the latter age group
went to Marnie Calwell (City of Bath)
Maria Popova from Spelthorne G.C., the daughter of the National
Men’s coach Andre Popov), ended the Championships as
the most decorated gymnast in the U13, closely challenged
by her team mate Luisa Cantore (Gold on Rope, Silver Overall)
and Rachel Smith, from Coventry, Gold on Ribbon, Bronze Overall.
“It was a very intense and interesting Championships,
which will help us to build our plans for further development
of this sport in the country. My congratulations go to all
the medallists and their coaches for their excellent achievements
over the weekend. Held for the first time at the spacious
but very cosy Fenton Manor, with hugely improved audiovisual
presentation, these Championships set new standards also in
the better promotion of our sport”, said Joan Black,
President of the RG/TC.
“Looking at the potential our youngest gymnasts, who
competed at these Championships, I am mostly impressed by
the achievements of City of Canterbury (led by the coach Anni
Ahmavaara) Esprit (coach Debbie Hows) and Llanelli (Coach
Linda Thomas), added National Coach Nadya Alexandrova.
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