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2008 Olympian Hannah Whelan Liverpool) won the senior all-around title at the British Women's Gymnastics Championships, held this weekend in Guildford.

Senior medalists Hibbert, Whelan and Francis

Whelan won the title by nearly 2 points on Saturday, two days after her 18th birthday. She had an outstanding competition, earning marks of 14.500 on vault, 14.050 on uneven bars, 14.550 on balance beam and 14.700 on floor exercise.

"I'm really, really happy!" said Whelan, who underwent wrist surgery in September. "I didn't have any aims or expectations coming into the competition, so to then go out and win is just incredible. I've had injury problems so to then return and become British champion is fantastic."

Heathrow's Nicole Hibbert, 15, took second after winning the junior all-around title in 2009. She took her top score on vault with 14.600.

"I had a really good competition," said Hibbert, a member of Britain's silver-medal team at the 2010 European Championships. "In training I felt a slight problem with my hip, but it seems to have recovered. My beam was a bit wobbly but overall I'm happy. Its potentially a big year coming up with either the Commonwealth Games or world championships so I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year."

Hibbert's clubmate Danusia Francis won the bronze medal 55.350. Francis, a gold medalist at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival, is also returning from injury. The 16 year old swallowed a 12.500 on uneven bars, but her other scores ranged from 14.100 to 14.450.

"I'm extremely happy," she said. "I've had a bit of a difficult run in with a few injuries so to be able to compete here in the first place was great, and gave me a chance to see where I stand compared to some of the other gymnasts. Having missed out on the Europeans, it was good to show the home crowd what I can do and win a medal."

Seven-time British all-around champion Beth Tweddle competed uneven bars only, easily winning the title in Sunday's event final (15.850). Tweddle, winner of five European titles and two world titles, recently received the rank of Member of the British Empire for her outstanding contribution to British sports.

Junior champion Laura Mitchell

Imogen Cairns won vault over Olympic teammate Marissa King, who competes for the University of Florida. Francis, whose coaches include 1981 world floor exercise champion Natalia Ilienko-Jarvis, took both balance beam and floor exercise titles.

Heathrow picked up two more titles in the junior division, with Laura Mitchell winning the all-around and balance beam. In April, Mitchell finished 14th all-around at the 2010 Junior European Championships in Birmingham.

"That was really exciting!" the 15 year old said. "I wasn't really thinking about the results it was more focusing on how to perform each piece. I always try to enjoy each competition. Even though it's nerve-wracking, I still want to have fun when I compete. I can't even put into words how amazing this year has been for me. I'm so happy."

Liverpool's Rebecca Tunney, 13, won the all-around silver and uneven bars gold.

"I'm really happy," Tunney said. "I got a bit nervous at times but I wanted to prove myself again after the Europeans, and I think I've done that today."

Welsh gymnast Venus Romaeo (Cardiff Central), another gymnast returning from injury, won the junior all-around bronze medal.

"I'm really impressed with myself," the 13 year old said. "I went clean all round so I'm very pleased with today. Having had an injury I'm so happy to be back competing and I've put a lot of work in to getting back here. After missing the Europeans I kind of wanted to prove that I am there amongst the team and I think I did that today so I'm very happy."

Younger sister Angel Romaeo won gold on uneven bars and silvers on balance beam and floor exercise in the Espoirs (Hopes) division. The 12 year old won the all-around title in the Espoirs Championships, held separately in June in Gloucester.

External Link: British Gymnastics

2010 British Women's Gymnastics Championships
July 3-4, Guildford

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