A sold-out crowd gathered to watch the final day of the 2017 British Gymnastics Championships, which concluded Sunday at Liverpool's Echo Arena. Pictured: Junior all-around silver medalist Amelie Morgan won two silvers and a gold in finals.
A sold-out crowd gathered to watch the final day of the 2017 British Gymnastics Championships, which concluded Sunday at Liverpool's Echo Arena.
British Gymnastics reported a record number of 15,835 spectators in attendance over the three days of competition, which included sell-out crowds for Saturday's senior all-around finals and Sunday's event finals. The competition, which crowned junior and senior all-around and event champions, drew more than 205 gymnasts representing 63 gymnastics clubs across the UK.
The national championships in Liverpool also included the "Disability" Masters, an interesting concept that should be seriously explored by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) as a possibility for inclusion as a Paralympic sport.
The competition ended Sunday with the apparatus finals for junior and senior women, and the "Masters" finals for men, which included the top gymnasts on each event from both junior and senior competition. The Masters finals gave several younger gymnasts the chance to compete head-to-head with the top seniors in the country. Several international competitors who competed as guests during the all-around competition were eligible for medals in the Masters finals.
New senior women's all-around champion Ellie Downie (Notts Gymnastics Academy) added event titles on vault and uneven bars, but elected to skip finals on beam and floor exercise to rest up for next Saturday's FIG World Cup in London. She scored a massive 9.750 Execution score on her double-twisting Yurchenko first vault. Downie, who has been training a Cheng Fei, stepped over the line on her layout Podkopayeva second vault for an average of 14.437. After falling in the all-around, she hit bars in finals (Maloney uprise Hindorff; toe-full to piked Tkatchev to Pak; Van Leeuwen; stuck double layout; 14.600/5.9).
The outstanding Georgia-Mae Fenton (East London), who resembles 2002 world beam champion Ashley Postell, won the silver medal with an impressive 9.075 Execution score, with a brilliant original Ricna-half to Yezhova combination (14.575/5.5). Two-time Olympian Becky Downie, Ellie's elder sister, missed her eponymous skill (Stalder-piked Tkatchev) but managed the bronze. (14.025/5.9).
All-around champion Ellie Downie (Notts Gymnastics) won vault and uneven bars on Sunday.
Phoebe Turner (The Academy), who finished fifth all-around, won the balance beam title (12.575/4.8) over St Tydfil's Latalia Bevan (no relation to Olympian Brinn Bevan).
All-around bronze medalist Maisie Methuen (pronounced Me-thune) of Phoenix Gymnastics won floor exercise (tucked full-in; double pike; double-twisting layout front; 13.425/4.7) over Olympian Claudia Fragapane, who stumbled out of bounds on her third pass (double layout; Arabian double front; triple twist; double pike; 13.150/5.2).
In the junior women's competition, all-around champion Taeja James (Birmingham) picked up three more golds on vault, uneven bars and balance beam. She fell off beam on her wolf turn and settled for silver. Though James dominated the event, the depth of talent was noteworthy, particularly young gymnasts hailing from newer clubs now capable of producing international-level gymnasts. All-around runner-up Amelie Morgan (Slough), who impressed in Liverpool with her elegance and clean lines, took gold on beam (switch leap, switch half; front aerial; straddle jump-half done sideways; ff ff layout; switch leap full; RO 2 1/2; 13.450/5.2) in finals after silvers on vault and uneven bars.
Zoe Simmons (The Academy) won silver on floor (nice running double front opening pass). All-around bronze medalist Jolie Ruckley (Cardiff Olympic) won three more bronze medals for Wales on bars, beam and floor.
In the men's Masters finals, a trio of gymnasts representing Ireland picked up titles. Andrew Smith, who trains at Notts Gymnastics, won floor exercise (14.225/5.6). Junior European silver medalist Rhys McClenaghan (Rathgael) continued his ascension with the gold medal on pommel horse (14.900/6.1) over three-time world championships medalist Prashanth Sellathurai (13.775/6.0). Sellathurai trains at Milton Keyes Gymnastics in Buckinghamshire, where he moved to attend medical school.
Lisburn's Ewan McAteer — who will turn 18 in July like McClenaghan — won the vault title over senior all-around silver medalist Dominick Cunningham (Birmingham)
Courtney Tulloch (Pegasus) won still rings (14.950/6.4) over new all-around champion Joe Fraser of Birmingham (13.575/5.1). Former British team member Reiss Beckford, who now represents Jamaica, won the bronze (13.375/5.3.)
On parallel bars, James Hall brought Pegasus a second title (13.825/5.8). Fraser, Joshua Nathan and Donell Osbourne swept the medals for Birmingham on high bar.
Gymnastics returns to London's O2 Arena, site of the 2012 Olympic Games, during next Saturday's World Cup event, the third and final all-around stop in the 2017 series. Ellie Downie, Olympic floor bronze medalist Amy Tinkler and Olympians Sam Oldham and Brinn Bevan will represent Great Britain. Ukrainian star Oleg Vernyayev headlines the field, which also includes world vault bronze medalist Donnell Whittenburg (United States) and Olympians Tabea Alt (Germany), Angelina Melnikova (Russia) and Eddy Yusof (Switzerland). First-year senior Victoria Nguyen (United States), the latest talent from Liang Chow, will make her senior international debut at the City of Jesolo Trophy, April 1-2 in Italy, before heading to London to compete in the World Cup.
External Link: British Gymnastics
2017 British Gymnastics Championships
March 26, Liverpool, England
Senior Women's Vault Final | D | E | ND | Score | Average |
1. | Ellie Downie | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 5.4 | 9.750 | | 15.150 | 14.437 |
| 5.2 | 8.825 | 0.3 | 13.725 | |
2. | Holly Jones | Swansea Gymnastics Centre | 5.0 | 8.850 | | 13.850 | 13.512 |
| 4.0 | 9.175 | | 13.175 | |
3. | Phoebe Turner | The Academy | 4.6 | 9.150 | | 13.750 | 13.412 |
| 4.4 | 8.675 | | 13.075 | |
4. | Megan Bridge | Gymmagic | 4.6 | 9.125 | | 13.725 | 13.337 |
| 4.1 | 8.850 | | 12.950 | |
5. | Shannon Archer | Glasgow | 4.6 | 8.600 | | 13.200 | 12.337 |
| 4.1 | 7.375 | | 11.475 | |
6. | Carrlisa Alleyne | Cardiff Central Youth Club | 4.1 | 8.650 | | 12.750 | 6.375 |
| 0.0 | 0.000 | | 0.000 | |
Senior Uneven Bars Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Ellie Downie | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 5.9 | 8.700 | | 14.600 |
2. | Georgia-Mae Fenton | East London | 5.5 | 9.075 | | 14.575 |
3. | Becky Downie | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 5.9 | 8.125 | | 14.025 |
4. | Amy Tinkler | South Essex | 5.5 | 8.425 | | 13.925 |
5. | Tyesha Mattis | London | 5.5 | 8.275 | | 13.775 |
6. | Charlie Fellows | Park Wrekin | 4.9 | 7.750 | | 12.650 |
7. | Nicole Hibbert | Heathrow | 4.9 | 7.325 | | 12.225 |
8. | Ellesse Oates | Park Wrekin | 3.8 | 7.725 | | 11.525 |
Senior Balance Beam Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Phoebe Turner | The Academy | 4.8 | 7.775 | | 12.575 |
2. | Latalia Bevan | St Tydfils | 5.1 | 7.375 | | 12.475 |
3. | Lana Chilton | Newcastle Gym Academy | 4.3 | 7.925 | | 12.225 |
4. | Maisie Methuen | Phoenix | 4.8 | 7.225 | | 12.025 |
5. | Alice Kinsella | Park Wrekin | 5.1 | 6.325 | | 11.425 |
6. | Holly Jones | Swansea Gymnastics Centre | 4.5 | 6.800 | | 11.300 |
7. | Amelia Montague | Tolworth | 4.1 | 6.350 | | 10.450 |
8. | Megan Bridge | Gymmagic | 4.4 | 5.800 | 0.1 | 10.100 |
Senior Women's Floor Exercise Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Maisie Methuen | Phoenix | 4.7 | 8.725 | | 13.425 |
2. | Claudia Fragapane | Bristol Hawks | 5.2 | 8.450 | 0.5 | 13.150 |
3. | Charlie Fellows | Park Wrekin | 4.7 | 8.450 | 0.1 | 13.050 |
4. | Megan Parker | Birmingham | 4.6 | 8.375 | | 12.975 |
5. | Alice Kinsella | Park Wrekin | 5.0 | 8.150 | 0.3 | 12.850 |
6. | Emily Thomas | Pen-y-Bont | 4.3 | 8.450 | | 12.750 |
7. | Sophie Scott | Leatherhead & Dorking | 4.7 | 7.900 | | 12.600 |
8. | Ellesse Oates | Park Wrekin | 4.7 | 8.250 | 0.5 | 12.450 |
Masters Floor Exercise Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Andrew Smith |  | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 5.6 | 8.625 | | 14.225 |
2. | Hamish Carter | | Birmingham | 5.4 | 8.525 | | 13.925 |
3. | Jamie Lewis | | Woking | 5.4 | 8.375 | | 13.775 |
4. | Matthew Boardman | | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 5.2 | 7.775 | 0.3 | 12.675 |
5. | Joe Fraser | | Birmingham | 5.6 | 6.800 | 0.1 | 12.300 |
6. | Dominick Cunningham | | Birmingham | 6.0 | 6.125 | | 12.125 |
7. | Josh Cook | | Barry YMCA | 5.3 | 6.800 | 0.1 | 12.000 |
8. | Joshua Nathan | | Birmingham | 5.2 | 6.575 | | 11.775 |
Masters Pommel Horse Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Rhys McClenaghan |  | Rathgael Gymnastics & Tumbling Club | 6.1 | 8.800 | | 14.900 |
2. | Prashanth Sellathurai |  | Milton Keynes Gym | 6.0 | 7.775 | | 13.775 |
3. | Korben Fellows | | Birmingham | 5.2 | 8.475 | | 13.675 |
4. | Jac Davies | | Swansea Gymnastics Centre | 6.1 | 7.150 | | 13.250 |
5. | Jamie Lewis | | Woking | 6.4 | 6.500 | | 12.900 |
6. | James Hall | | Pegasus | 5.9 | 6.775 | | 12.675 |
7. | William Trood | | Loughborough Students | 4.4 | 8.000 | | 12.400 |
8. | Sam Oldham | | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 5.1 | 6.875 | | 11.975 |
Masters Still Rings Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Courtney Tulloch | | Pegasus | 6.4 | 8.550 | | 14.950 |
2. | Joe Fraser | | Birmingham | 5.1 | 8.475 | | 13.575 |
3. | Reiss Beckford |  | South Essex | 5.3 | 8.075 | | 13.375 |
4. | James Hall | | Pegasus | 5.4 | 7.750 | | 13.150 |
5. | Dominick Cunningham | | Birmingham | 5.1 | 7.925 | | 13.025 |
6. | Elliott Cooper | | Manchester | 6.0 | 6.850 | | 12.850 |
7. | Joe Cemlyn-Jones | | Falcons Gym Academy | 4.3 | 8.325 | | 12.625 |
8. | Jamie Lewis | | Woking | 4.4 | 8.100 | | 12.500 |
Masters Vault Final | D | E | ND | Score | Average |
1. | Ewan McAteer |  | Lisburn Salto | 5.2 | 9.125 | | 14.325 | 14.037 |
| 4.8 | 8.950 | | 13.750 | |
2. | Dominick Cunningham | | Birmingham | 5.2 | 8.775 | 0.1 | 13.875 | 13.912 |
| 4.8 | 9.150 | | 13.950 | |
3. | Gabriel Hannah | | Loughborough Students | 4.8 | 8.750 | | 13.550 | 13.800 |
| 5.2 | 8.850 | | 14.050 | |
4. | Hamish Carter | | Birmingham | 4.8 | 9.175 | | 13.975 | 13.700 |
| 4.0 | 9.425 | | 13.425 | |
5. | Donell Osbourne | | Birmingham | 4.4 | 9.125 | 0.1 | 13.425 | 13.450 |
| 4.8 | 8.775 | 0.1 | 13.475 | |
6. | Sam Mostowfi | | Pegasus | 4.8 | 9.200 | | 14.000 | 13.100 |
| 3.2 | 9.000 | | 12.200 | |
7. | Reiss Beckford |  | South Essex | 4.8 | 7.750 | | 12.550 | 13.050 |
| 4.6 | 9.050 | 0.1 | 13.550 | |
8. | David Weir | | Glasgow | 4.8 | 7.950 | 0.3 | 12.450 | 12.562 |
| 4.0 | 8.675 | | 12.675 | |
Masters Parallel Bars Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | James Hall | | Pegasus | 5.8 | 8.025 | | 13.825 |
2. | Donell Osbourne | | Birmingham | 4.8 | 8.925 | | 13.725 |
3. | Joe Fraser | | Birmingham | 5.0 | 8.625 | | 13.625 |
4. | Sam Oldham | | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 5.9 | 7.650 | | 13.550 |
5. | William Trood | | Loughborough Students | 4.7 | 8.750 | | 13.450 |
6. | Daniel Lee | | Tolworth | 3.9 | 8.475 | | 12.375 |
7. | Jamie Lewis | | Woking | 4.8 | 7.300 | | 12.100 |
8. | Elliott Cooper | | Manchester | 5.3 | 6.500 | | 11.800 |
Masters High Bar Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Joe Fraser | | Birmingham | 5.2 | 8.675 | | 13.875 |
2. | Joshua Nathan | | Birmingham | 4.4 | 8.700 | | 13.100 |
3. | Donell Osbourne | | Birmingham | 4.5 | 8.575 | | 13.075 |
4. | Jamie Lewis | | Woking | 4.8 | 8.225 | | 13.025 |
5. | Gabriel Hannah | | Loughborough Students | 4.4 | 8.425 | | 12.825 |
6. | Kevin Cerda |  | Birmingham | 5.4 | 6.975 | | 12.375 |
7. | William Trood | | Loughborough Students | 4.1 | 7.125 | | 11.225 |
8. | Dominick Cunningham | | Birmingham | 5.3 | 5.875 | | 11.175 |
Junior Women's Vault Final | D | E | ND | Score | Average |
1. | Taeja James | Birmingham | 4.6 | 9.075 | | 13.675 | 13.612 |
| 4.80 | 8.750 | | 13.550 | |
2. | Amelie Morgan | Slough | 4.6 | 9.300 | | 13.900 | 13.525 |
| 4.00 | 9.250 | 0.1 | 13.150 | |
3. | Zoe Simmons | The Academy | 4.6 | 8.925 | | 13.525 | 13.425 |
| 4.40 | 8.925 | | 13.325 | |
4. | Sioned Thomas | Swansea Gymnastics Centre | 4.6 | 8.600 | | 13.200 | 13.275 |
| 4.20 | 9.150 | | 13.350 | |
5. | Scarlett Williams | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 4.0 | 9.100 | | 13.100 | 12.637 |
| 3.30 | 8.875 | | 12.175 | |
6. | Ellie Russell | West Lothian Artistic | 3.7 | 8.675 | | 12.375 | 12.550 |
| 4.00 | 8.725 | | 12.725 | |
7. | Kirsty Fowler | Aberdeen | 3.5 | 8.875 | | 12.375 | 12.337 |
| 3.30 | 9.000 | | 12.300 | |
8. | Laura Beasley | Park Wrekin | 4.6 | 7.675 | | 12.275 | 6.137 |
| 0.00 | 0.000 | | 0.000 | |
Junior Uneven Bars Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Taeja James | Birmingham | 4.6 | 8.975 | | 13.575 |
2. | Amelie Morgan | Slough | 4.4 | 8.675 | | 13.075 |
3. | Jolie Ruckley | Cardiff Olympic | 4.3 | 8.400 | | 12.700 |
4. | Paige Thomas | Neath Afan | 4.3 | 7.925 | | 12.225 |
5. | Kelsey Ann Moore | Liverpool | 4.5 | 6.700 | | 11.200 |
6. | Roshelle Spencer-Smith | Heathrow | 4.1 | 6.875 | | 10.975 |
7. | Phoebe Jakubczyk | The Academy | 3.6 | 6.900 | | 10.500 |
8. | Hallie Copperwheat | Sapphire | 3.5 | 6.775 | | 10.275 |
Junior Balance Beam Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Amelie Morgan | Slough | 5.2 | 8.250 | | 13.450 |
2. | Taeja James | Birmingham | 5.6 | 7.425 | | 13.025 |
3. | Jolie Ruckley | Cardiff Olympic | 4.7 | 7.900 | | 12.600 |
4. | Alyieana Rahim | Sapphire | 4.1 | 8.175 | | 12.275 |
5. | Ellee Cheetham | Manchester | 4.3 | 7.725 | | 12.025 |
6. | Laura Beasley | Park Wrekin | 4.7 | 6.975 | | 11.675 |
7. | Scarlett Williams | Notts Gymnastics Academy | 4.6 | 7.000 | | 11.600 |
8. | Megan Splain | Sapphire | 4.3 | 7.075 | | 11.375 |
Junior Women's Floor Exercise Final | D | E | ND | Score |
1. | Taeja James | Birmingham | 5.4 | 8.650 | | 14.050 |
2. | Zoe Simmons | The Academy | 4.9 | 8.075 | | 12.975 |
3. | Jolie Ruckley | Cardiff Olympic | 4.3 | 8.450 | | 12.750 |
4. | Megan Splain | Sapphire | 4.2 | 8.300 | | 12.500 |
5. | Ellie Russell | West Lothian Artistic | 4.3 | 8.050 | | 12.350 |
6. | Phoebe Jakubczyk | The Academy | 4.0 | 8.400 | 0.1 | 12.300 |
7. | Amelie Morgan | Slough | 4.7 | 7.675 | 0.3 | 12.075 |
8. | Amelia Knight | The Academy | 4.2 | 6.975 | 0.3 | 10.875 |
International Gymnast magazine's recent coverage of British gymnasts includes:
"British Catalyst" - Daniel Keatings interview (March 2017)
"British Breakouts" - Maisie Methuen/Alice Kinsella interviews (December 2016)
"Mounting His Challenge" - Louis Smith interview (March 2016)
"Britain's Best" - Amy Tinkler/Catherine Lyons interviews (June 2015)
Lisa Mason interview (May 2015)
"Britain's New Bombshell" - Claudia Fragapane interview (December 2014)
Barry Collie interview (July/August 2014)
"A Sorority of Success" - Becky Downie/Ellie Downie interviews (June 2014)
Becky Downie, Whitlock, Nile Wilson and Brinn Bevan on cover (June 2014)
"Branching Out" - Rebecca Tunney profile (May 2014)
"European Brilliance" - Ruby Harrold interview (September 2013)
"Lord Max" - Max Whitlock interview (June 2013)
To order back issues, or subscribe to the print and/or digital edition of International Gymnast magazine,
click here.
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