Tournament

[Jackie]

Thought I would get a new topic started on the Acro page! Who's going to the Tournament and do we know what countries will be appearing? I've heard rumours that it will not be finishing until 8.30pm - please someone tell me that's not true! Anita????

Jackie

[Anita]

I'm going!

Gymnasts from Russia, Belgium, Ukraine and France in the acro and Ukraine, Spain and the Republic of Ireland tumbling.

8.30 finish - not sure about this but believe the Saturday is going to be later than the Sunday.

Oh yes, and the British are going to be there too! :p

[Dave]

Wish i were going :(

Isn't it this weekend comming in stoke ???

[Anita]

Yep - hubby and I leave for Stoke tomorrow :) but both have to work in the morning first :( .

[Jackie]

Will see you there Anita, we leave early Saturday morning.

[Anita]

Have to make sure we meet up :)

[Dave]

Not fair me wanna go and watch !:(

[Jackie]

Hi Anita


What did you think of the competition? I thought Saturday was a little too long but otherwise it all went well. I saw you looking very official behind the computers at the back of the arena but you were in that well guarded area where no-one was allowed to go so could not get to say hello!

Jackie

[Dave]

Calling Anyone who was there how did it go ?

[Anita]

Got back just before midnight last night! Very long, tiring weekend - spent most of Friday at the arena setting up then all day Saturday - as you say Jackie: a long day! Didn't get to see as much as I'd have like because I was inputting the scores but what I did see, especially the FIG levels, was good. Some very interesting and nice routines but also some total rubbish and boring ones!!!!

The tumbling was great Dave, you'd have been in your element watching that ;).

Have to make a comment about leotards! There were some really ghastly leotards being worn!!!! I'd also advise people to check the FIG rules for next year, which are getting very strict and many of the FIG level leos won't be "legal" next year, some because there's too much "mock flesh" and others because they're "themed". One particular one sticks in my mind: a trio (Senior WG) had a sleeveless shiny leo (although the base's had obviously been washed in a machine because it wasn't shiny anymore :( ) with three "eyelets" in the back (currently illegal because it shows the back) but also meant they couldn't wear any adult support (:o ) which was very obvious and bordering on the obscene (left nothing to the imagination :eek: ). Sorry girls but I suggest you leave that trainer for training.

[Dave]

Wish i could have made it now, i so wanted to watch the tumbling, ah well hopefully i will be up and the british ( not competing ) but watching.....

Anita,
I know this is checky to ask but do you have the results of the tournement ? Im not back in the gym till Thursday and i so badly wanna know the results !

[Jackie]

Anita


I know the leotards you mean and I was sat very near and couldn't make out what had happened to the particular one concerned. As someone who did supply a lot of the leotards there yesterday I have to reserve comment on what was being worn apart from THE GLADIATORS!!! It was such a shame that the Russian men's four came out dressed in these outfits - it totally distracted from their entire performance. All I could see were skinny legs in tights that didn't fit with brown socks sewn on! I have to admit that in my opinion the Russian girls have possibly the most beautiful leotards that I have seen. Having sat through the Worlds earlier this year every leotard seemed to be better than the last.

Jackie

[Anita]

The gladiators - it must've taken a lot of nerve to wear that outfit! Have to admit a lot of the leos were nice, I just don't like some of the OTT ones (too rhythmic!) but prefer them simplified (like Patrick and partner's jade/gold ones which also took away the bikini look of the original). With others it's the choice of colour: like the fluorescent green ones (needed sun glasses to watch that). I sometimes think they detract from the routine.

The new FIG rules coming in next year will make quite a lot of those leotards "illegal" for sports acro - ie cabaret, bikini & swimsuit styles along with those with flesh colour fabric "to give similar effects or appears of large areas of nakedness (eg the trunk) are also forbidden". In fact the first para stats:

Competition attire must be gymnastic in character and design and complement the artistry of an exercise. It should not divert attention from the performance of gymnasts, nor require adjustment during an exercise
One thing relevant to the leotard mentioned before is this Undergarments must provide mature gymnasts with adequate support relative to need, so that private body parts remain so. Their leotards certainly did not!

My other pet "gripe" is makeup, especially if it's heavy and OTT along with the way some people are adding glitter and diamantes to their faces - which isn't allowed because it can come off on the floor! Under the new rules are the following two items:

Hair clips, slides, bands and ribbons, if worn, must be secure. Character hair accessories (e.g. tiaras; feathers; flowers) are not allowed. and
Face painting is not allowed; any make-up must be modest and not for depiction of a theatrical character (animal or human).
It will be interesting to see what effect the new rules have on the appearance of some gymnasts!

By the way - the provisional code of points is downloadable from the FIG website.

[Jackie]

Anita

Glad you like Pat's partner's leotards - they were originally my daughter's! Have you heard anything about crystals not being allowed on leotards from next year - I have read the rules and can't see anything to this effect. I know it would save me a lot of work - every club I supply wants crystals and it takes forever to apply them (although I do think the end result does look good)!

The other thing I was told is that the age of seniors is going to rise to 16. That would be a major blow to senior Acro in the UK if it does happen. Looking back at the weekend, we didn't have a senior mixed pair or women's pair competing at all. It is hard enough finding 15 year olds who are small enough to be tops - what will happen when they have to be 16????

Jackie

[Anita]

Her two leotards were two that I definitely liked! I think it's because they were rather more "simplified" than others which, I felt, gave them more impact - loved the colours too!

Re: crystals - this is from the proposed code of points:

Sequins, stones, cummerbunds, and lace must be either integrated into the fabric of the competition attire, or attached securely, but any injury occurring as a consequence is the responsibility of the coach and athlete.

So crystals are allowed as long as they're securely attached although, in the section above this is the following:

For safety reasons, loose clothing, raised attachments or accessories are not allowed.

Slightly contradictory but I think it means more in the way of the round sequins or other large "diamante's" being sewn on that can scratch or larger items that, perhaps, aren't appliqued.

As for the age change of seniors - nothing in the new proposed code of points and can't find anything on the FIG website. Once the new Competition Handbook is released I'll have a look and let you know.

[Joe]

I almost came up to this, but was too tired after travelling from Spain on Saturday.

Does anyone have any results (particularly Tumbling)?

[Anita]

Got the floor results but not the tumbling but I do know that Kath Peberdy won the Senior Women and think it was Rob Small won the Mens.

I'm sure Sandra will get the results through to the BGA for adding to the site as soon as she can.

[Dave]

This just gets more depressing now ! Wish i was there i used to train with Rob Small when i was a youngster at Sportac 76, it would have been nice to meet him again and see how he is....

Anita,
Could you email me the results if you have them ? even if its only floor ?

[Laura jayne]

Hi anita! you tlk bout a senior trio at the tornament wearing illegal leotards. My name is Laura and I was the top of that trio.:o I wud like to say thank u for sharing that bit of info because i honestly didnt no that they were illegal. I thought that it was only nxt year that u wernt alowd to wear them i dnt have the slightest idea that they were illegal. so thank you!!
I now no that at my nxt comp I wil keep that leotard a side!!!!!!;)

[Anita]

HI Laura

Hope you enjoyed the competition - I do remember you: the first time I saw you was at the Nottingham Open in 2001 when our club came up from Kent to compete (we really enjoyed the comp and wanted to come back but it's always clashed with something down here ever since!). I still have the programme: you were competing on the same level as my daughter at both pairs and trios!

Didn't want to be nasty about the leo but I'm glad you now know because you do lose marks for it, which is a shame: thought you did well, though. Will you be at the British in March? If so, I'll come and say hello.

[Laura jayne]

hi anita

really i cant remember it seems ages ago. I fink i am doin d british, i wil av to tel me partners bout the leotard:p

[Joe]

Shame there aren't any results online. Nice to hear both Rob and Kath are healthy again, though.

[Dave]

Results are now up...