Medal success at championships

GYMNASTICS

City of Canterbury’s rhythmic gymnasts brought back 13 medals from last weekend’s British Championships in Stoke-on-Trent, third only to the hauls managed by the London Academy of Gymnastics and Swindon-based club Esprit. The competition ended an excellent month for the club after a record-breaking English Championships two weeks ago in which Canterbury girls took five of the 12 all-around medals available, including a one-two in the under-11 section for Leah Alcock and Negarin Tabibi. With Alcock and Tabibi missing from the Potteries on Saturday, Emily Woodruff was the pick of the Canterbury youngsters – adding under-12 British bronze to her English medal of the same colour. Fourteen-year-old Abbie Wyver missed out narrowly in the fight for all-around thirdplace but bounced back with three medals in the junior individual apparatus finals held on Sunday. Jael Gore flew the Canterbury flag in the senior competition in the absence of older sister Kezi and walked away with five medals, with overall bronze and a silver for her hoop routine. Birthday girl Eve Baker-Roberts, who qualified for all of the apparatus finals, Chloe Picton, Lottie Wittich and Christie Lee-Pullen made up the seven-strong Canterbury contingent. Long-serving coach Anni Ahmavaara was presiding over her 11th national championships and was delighted with the efforts of her athletes. She said: “These were good championships for the club. We had one of the largest entries this year, so there has been a lot of work to do. “The English Championships two weeks ago was good preparation for this as I was able to make last-minute changes to improve the quality of performances. “All the girls performed routines that matched good training performances and that’s all I can ask for. Things are promising for the CWG and the Junior European Championships next year.”

WINNING ROUTINE: City of Canterbury Rhythmic Gymnastics Club members who achieved success at the British Championships