25/05/12 Montpellier (FRA): Great Britain’s Frank Baines is the 2012 European Championships junior all-around champion, followed closely by Nile Wilson in second. The British boys dominated the final with near perfect routines continuing the fine form that all the British gymnasts have shown throughout the championships.

The two Brits were separated by less than a point, Frank with 84.932 and Nile with 84.180. Frank excelling particularly on pommel (14.200) and high bar (13.800) where his scores were the best of any gymnast, while Nile’s parallel bars routine of 14.133 was also unbeatable.

The gold and silver follow on from the junior teams gold comfortably won on Wednesday, and with apparatus finals on Sunday, the GBR medal haul is ever growing. The dominance of the British juniors throughout the championships an indication of what British Gymnastics can look forward to in the years to come.

Frank Baines (Southport): “It’s just amazing, I’ve dreamed for so long to be up on the podium and it’s very special. I had the responsibility as team captain and I felt a bit of expectation but the team have held together brilliantly and the support today was fantastic, I’m really happy.”

Nile Wilson (Leeds): “It was a nervy wait at the end but when the score came through I was so relieved, I’ve never competed on a podium before and couldn’t be happier with how things have gone for me. I knew I had a chance coming into the competition as I’ve been scoring well and now I just can’t stop smiling, it’s amazing.”

GBR quick hits

Pommel
Nile Wilson showed great form and lovely rhythm in a very tidy starting routine for 13.766. Frank Baines following with big flares to start before settling into a very difficult routine requiring fast hands and huge concentration executed perfectly to score 14.200.

Rings
A great rings routine by Nile, looking very stable and confident with stuck dismount for 13.916, Frank following up with another strong performance, just a small hop back on landing for 13.633.

Vault
Nile Wilson with a comfortable vault, small side step on landing for 15.066. Frank with a powerful aggressive vault for 15.425.

Parallel bars
Nile Wilson with a very difficult, technical routine, slightly short on his landing for 14.133. Frank continues the British boy’s dominance with another great routine, slightly awkward landing for 14.041

High bar
Brilliant high bar routine from Frank, looking very composed and controlled and nailed the dismount perfectly for 13.800. Nile Wilson on high bar loses a tiny bit of form in places, but produces a massive dismount again nailed to the floor scores him 13.666

Floor
A safe routine from Frank on floor, a few minor errors but professionally done to score 13.833. A great routine under pressure for Nile, flagged millimetres out after third pass, hold his nerve well for 13.633.