Updated: Thursday 22nd April, 11pm

GBR - JUNIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS

In Volos, 2006, the British Junior Team were 4th, close enough to feel the podium and want it badly. In Laussanne, 2008, they stood on top the podium, European Champions. In Birmingham 2010 GB Junior Men OWNED the podium, one little step higher in no way describing how far they finished above their nearest rivals.

European Junior Champions, British Gymnastics salutes you;

Reiss Beckford
Sam Oldham
Frank Baines
Max Whitlock
Cameron Mackenzie

Reserve- Max Bennett
Clubs – Huntingdon, South Essex, Southport YMCA
Coaches –Scott Hann, Sergei Sizhanov, Jeff Brookes, Ben Howells.

British Gymnastics Olympic Performance Director Tim Jones: “2 years ago when our Junior Team won the European title in Lausanne was a hugely significant moment in the development of the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics programme. A number of that Team have converted that success on to Senior level and were responsible for the strong progress made since Beijing. The results today is an indication that we are continuing this trend and whilst especially pleased with the performances, the impact this has on the long-term success of the programme should be immense. We now look forward to the Juniors competing in the All-around Finals on Saturday and Apparatus Finals on Sunday.”

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Sam Oldham (GB Gymnast) on waiting for the Junior competition to finish: “We had a long wait and watching the Swiss, that was really tense”
On sentiments on finishing the competition: “I’m relieved because there was a lot of pressure on. I feel really great as we did the job!”
On the pressure and expectations on the squad: “We knew we could do well but were surprised at how well we actually did as we all went cleanwith very little mistakes.”
Reiss Beckford (GB Gymnast) On expectations for the rest of the competition: “Knowing we made the All Around and apparatus finals we hope to pick up a few medals in those.”
Max Whitlock (GB Gymnast): “I’d like to thank all the fans, we had a lot of fans out there”
Eddie Van Hoof (British Gymnastics Men’s Technical Director): “It was a fantastic achievement for the team of young talented gymnasts coming in”
On how he found the wait for the remaining subdivisions to finish: “Not too bad. We were pretty confident that we had a strong score- although the Swiss did give us a scare in the first couple of rounds”
Scott Hann (GB Junior Boys Coach) on the pressure and expectations on the squad: “There was a lot more pressure (to win) during the build up so we had to make sure we did the job…Sergei was relaxed!”
On hopes for the rest of the Junior competition: “They’re all aspiring to be fantastic gymnasts and they are doing really well…We’re hoping to pick up a few more medals in the week.”

Reports-

5 in a team, 5 to compete each apparatus and 3 scores to count. FIG Junior Code, prohibited skills, short routines and C dismounts. A new game to be played.

With a final confirmed total of 34 of the 39 Teams (exceptions are Russia,Belarus, Ukraine,Israel and Georgia) competing, the Championships have begun in celebratory mood after the great efforts made by all countries to attend.

Subdivision 5 of 5.

Closer to Triumph.

With the final subdivision the British Junior Men’s Team joined the audience as their  moment of Glory approached.

It was a bit of a Balkans round. Into the arena came Greece, Serbia, Slovenia and Cyprus. All had a reputation for great gymnastics but who had the team to deny GB?

From the first apparatus they were all well off the pace for a podium finish.

Greece has European, World and Olympic Champions to spare but have always been an apparatus short of a good game. They are terrific at penalties and corner kicks but they cannot seem to pass the ball between the team members.

Cyprus showed some awesome skills but was not stable in performance. Slovenia were well rehearsed and presented many good routines. Serbia had a very young team who demonstrated a good account of clean technique; their day will come.

Greece, Floor, Chatziefstathiou, straight front to front 1 1/2, back 2 1/2, straight full, back double twist. Rings,

Cyprus, High Bar, Krasius, Kovacs, very acute turns and squat half out to a perfect handstand, double straight.

Nothing in the final Subdivision could change the outcome of the Junior European Championships. It was a decisive victory for Great Britain, an affirmation of status, the team to watch, the team to follow; an inspiration to the British Seniors in their final hours of preparation for the European senior Championships.

Subdivision 4

The Czech republic and Austria worked with a restricted arsenal of skills, some interesting performances but expensive errors at times. Nederlands were seriously useful but they lacked the individual brilliance to amass big scores.
Parallel Bar, Michael  Bletterman Thomas cut, undersomersault, back giant, Tippelt,Diamidov and double tuck.

Switzerland, the traditional sparring partner of Great Britain showed that they can mix it with the best and were the first real threat to Great Britain. The Swiss were determined and sound. Time to start chewing fingernails.

Their high bar was good;
Marco Rizzo, Geinger and double straight full dismount; Eddy Yussof, Tkachev straddled, very sharp mechanics and line, double straight full; Oliver Hegi, real inverts and double straight full; Pablo Braegger, Tkachevs straight (textbook) and double straight full.

5th rotation they went to Floor just a few tenths behind GB.
Floor; Michael Miere, Double Arabian, front 1 1/2, front double twist.
Pablo Braegger, 2 1/2 punch front, 1 1/2 to front full, front 1 1/2 to finish. Marco Rizzo, 1 1/2 twist to double front, 2 1/2 to pounch front full, double Arabian, back double twist.

Floor total 41.25, they needed close to 45 points on Pommels to overtake GB, difficult, unlikely if not impossible.

Braegger spilt his dismount, Meier went clean with a heavy dismount, Yusof , a good swing with a few E jury tenths away, Rizzo, through but a double dip dismount to handstand, Hegi, a great finish to  a super team performance. 39.2 and  team total 248.525. We will be happy to let Switzerland stand on our podium just a bit lower and to our right. 

 Swiss Domenico Rossi coach on his team being in 2nd place (248.525) in the team competition: “It was strange because we saw the result just before and thought that we could be second because Russia and the Ukraine were not here. We had an injured gymnast and our best one was also injured 3 weeks ago so we did not know….But with a silver medal we would be very happy”

Gymnast Oliver Hegi on the swiss teams performance: “We gave our best… and we are proud”

Gymnast Pablo Braegger on their competition: “At the end after pommel horse I was really happy that it was all over and that we managed to get into the medals…We hope our score will hold until the next round.”

Subdivision 3 (Updated at 5pm )

France, Slovakia, Belgium and Ireland  joined individuals from 7 other countries to form an interesting 3rd subdivision.

France was quite a mixed group in itself, physiques, abilities and style. They were sound and settled into a podium finish chase. Belgium and Slovakia did not let the competition get too far away, Slovakia the more adventurous and Belgium looking the more exciting with a relatively young team. Ireland also fielded a young team who show great promise.

France, Jim Zona, pommels, a very slick routine with an outward facing pommel loop.

How long does a coach wait for a young man to walk into the gym off the street, just nosing around, hangs on the rings for a giggle and can make every strength part in the code. It happens.  Stephan Micholet of France, one year into the sport and has a 15.3 Ring routine. He struggles to hold a handstand but he is Mr Universe in waiting, 14.25 off a 15.3 routine.

For Ireland Daniel Fox looks to be on the road to a super gymnastics career, this talented the sky is the limit.

The Great Britain lead was cut by France to 8.825 points with Belgium sitting happily in team 5th.

Bulgaria and Switzerland start in the next hour then Greece and Slovenia in the final subdivision. Team GB will have to sit and wait, patiently, very patiently.

Update from 2pm

Subdivision 1

Turkey used a Vault start to lead the Junior Europeans from the front but were brought down to earth second apparatus at Parallel Bars. As expected with juniors there were moments of brilliance and some big errors. Spain, Finland and Romania worked with some serious skills; Polini Italy a fine Stalder hop full on Bar, African, Turkey, Vault, handspring full twist to front somersault (interesting but defined or not elegant),

Romania took a big hit at pommels with even their best stalling or falling; Nistor showed no dismount, 12.00 to carry allowing Spain a shortcut to the top of the leader board. But with great Vaulting Romania hit the top spot again, 244.5 points, 3 points clear of Spain.


Subdivision 2

Enter Great Britain

Great Britain could see 244.5 on the scoreboard. NO PROBLEM. There was super support from family, friends and gymnastics fans, they were a positive lift to the team.

GBR FLOOR

Frank Baines – 14.65
Cameron McKenzie - double twist 15.325
Sam Oldham – double twist 15.1
Reiss Beckford  - Yurchenko double twist 14.85 (touch down)
      2nd vault 1 1/2 twist 15.025
Max Whitlock – Yurchenko 1 1/2 twist 15.1
            2nd vault Tsukahara full 14.5

For Britain 45.525. Germany produced a sound 41.04 at Parallel Bars. Britain would need 5 points clear at the end of round 5 as Germany, a major Vaulting nation, finished over the table.

GBR P BARS

Cameron McKenzie – back giant, Moy, Stutz, Diamidov, flying back double pike 13.725
Frank Baines – undersomersault, back giant, Moy, Diamidov, Stutz, double tuck 13.925
Reiss Beckford – Thomas cut, undersomersault, Diamidov, uprise cut, Healy, double pike 13.925
Max Whitlock – undersomersault, Moy, Healy, Diamidov, Flying back, Stutz, back out full 13.83
Sam Oldham – undersomersault, back giant, Moy, Healy, Diamidov, Stutz, back out full 13.45

As German star Ivan Rittschik missed Kovacs on High Bar the British Parallel bars hit the spot to build on that 5 point cushion.

GBR HIGH BAR

Cameron McKenzie – squat dislo elgrip giant, Tkachev straddled, double straight full. 13.075
Frank Baines – Endo Healy, Stalder Geinger roll, squat dislo elgrip Endo, double straight full. 12.95
Sam Oldham – Tkachevs straight and straddle, giant hop full, Rybalko, double double 5.1 difficulty, 13.725
Reiss Beckford – Kovacs tucked, Tkachev straddled, Stalder Geinger roll to el grip, Endo Healy to elgrip, double double straight 13.625
Max Whitlock – Geinger somersault, Stalder Geinger roll to elgrip, squat dislo but out too early, double straight full 12.6

Germany at Floor, Herder opened triple twist for 13.00 and team 40.97, nibbling the cushion but it held for GBR just over 6 points.

GBR FLOOR

Cameron McKenzie double Arabian front, 1 1/2 twist, 1 1/2 twist forward, 13.5
Frank Baines – Double Arabian, front double and singles twist, back double twist, 2 1/2 twist dismount, 13.75
Max Whitlock, - 2 1/2 twist punch front, Front double twistback 1 1/2 front full, triple twist 14.15
Reiss Beckford – straight to straight double twist, side full twist, whip 1 1/2 twist, double Arabian, 14.075
Sam Oldham – back half front double twist, 2 1/2 to front full, 1 1/2 twist front, Double Arabian, double twist, 14.45

On Pommels Germany took falls with both their top players, Rittschik a great Champion waiting to happen. The British cushion was now a 10 point settee.

GBR POMMELS

Reiss Beckford – triple Russians to Wu clean handstand dismount short and sweet, 13.05
Frank Baines – beautiful swing, flop series, Magyyar and Shivado, handstand dismount, 13.75
Sam Oldham – a fast and exciting swing through a flop series, Magyar and Shivado to handstand dismount 13.7
Max Whitlock – shear half, flop, spindle, Magyar, Shivado, Wu to Russian, handstand pirouette across the horse, 14.65
Cameron McKenzie – shear, Czech, double Russian, Magyar, Shivado, handstand 12.775

Germany at Rings were solid, Rittschik a double front dismount and Jursch good swing but bent arm planche. For GBR a 3 piece suite, 12 points clear.

GBR RINGS
Cameron McKenzie – uprise Planche, a perfect cross, Yamawaki, Jonasson, back giant, double straight, 13.05
Max Whitlock, Jonasson, uprise to Planche, forward and back giants, half in half out dismount, 13.875
Sam Oldham – Honma to cross, uprise Planche, cross, Yamawaki, Jonasson, back giant, half in half out, a moments hesitation in handstand, 13.7
Reiss Beckford – uprise planche, Honma straight, Jonasson, back giant, half in half out 14.275
Frank Baines – Yamawaki, Jonasson, uprise Planche, back giant, half in half out, 13.15

Germany’s power finish was softened with a run over the horse, 44.375 to rank behind Romania with Great Britain holding an unprecedented 9.7 point lead after the second sub division. For GBR now a long wait until ten o clock this evening. France and Switzerland will have to have something special to shift the British boys sitting team 1st and ranks 1,2,3 5 and 8. This is an amazing team.

Sam Oldham (GBR) “I think we’ve done really well. It was nerve-wracking at first but its great to have friends and family cheering you on and once the first piece is out of the way the nerves go.It’s going to be a long wait to see if we’ve won but things look good at the moment.”

Cameron Mackenzie (GBR) “ My Vault went really well, there was a lot of adrenaline flowing and I was getting nervous but I think I coped. I wasn’t in the Junior Europeans Team last time so its great to be involved now and I just hope we can keep this lead.”