Wales Dominate Northern Euros (4th Oct, 2005)

The Welsh team took the women’s 2005 Northern European team title (1 & 2 Oct). Top class performances by Lynette Lisle (34.400) and Rhian Pugh (34.150) also give them give them gold and silver in the all around event. Bronze was taken by the ever elegant Katie Slader from Northern Ireland (33.450).

The Scottish women were edged into third place in the team final (97.100) by Northern Ireland (97.600). The consistent Welsh team also picked up every gold in the individual apparatus finals. Jessica Gazzi won vault (8.6250), a-bars was another gold and silver hatrick with the European Junior Champion Rhian Pugh (8.8750) taking first place and Lynette Lisle (8.8500) second. Melanie Roberts (8.5750) took the beam title ahead of Katie Slader (8.1500) and Rhian Pugh (7.9000). Lynette Lisle took her third gold medal of the championships in the floor final (8.5550) ahead of Kristjana Saeunn from Iceland (8.500) and Rachel Wood from Scotland (8.4500).

In the men’s team event, Finland took the title (147.750) putting Sweden (145.800) in the silver medal position and Denmark in to third (144.450). Jimmi Bostrum (50.600) from Sweden won the men’s all around event, Jani Tanskannen (50.000) from Finland took silver and Helge Vammen (49.200) from Denmark the bronze medal.

David Eaton struck double gold for the Welsh camp on floor (8.4500) and high bar (8.5500). Janni Bostrum (9.300) added to his all around title with a gold on pommels ahead of David Eaton (9.0250) and Daniel Keatings (8.7000) from Scotland. There was a rapturous applause from the host nation for Matthew Cosgrave who took silver in the vault final (8.7000). Helge Vammen from Denmark clinched gold with two clean vaults (8.7690) and Iikka Kuusela from Finland took the parallel bars title (8.6250).

The 2005 Northern Europeans was a vital competition for selected gymnasts from Commonwealth nations to reach their qualifying standards for the Games and it was also great preparation for those gymnasts competing at next month’s World Championships in Melbourne.

The Championships were a huge success for Northern Ireland Gymnastics. The facilities at the Lagan Valley Leisureplex were world class and the whole event ran smoothly due to the efforts of event organiser Ciaran Gallagher. Backflip Gymnastics Magazine received enormous interest at the event and we would like to thank NI Gymnastics, in particular Ciaran, Gilly Carson and also Brendan Courtney from Lisburn Leisure Services for all their support.