Beth Tweddle opens new Scarborough Gymnastics Academy

Froma Scarborough Evening News:

"Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle helped put Scarborough's aspiring gymnasts through their paces and offered some expert advice.
The 24-year-old world champion was in Scarborough over the weekend to officially open Scarborough Gymnastics Academy in Barry's Lane.

Beth said the Academy held "the potential stars of the future" and that the new facilities were something to proud of.

She said: "Seeing clubs around the country like this is one of my dreams. It is really nice to see so much enthusiasm for the sport, not just from the children but the coaches too. These facilities give the kids a safe environment to work in. They have a lot of talent here."

She added: "I have had an excellent time in Scarborough. Everybody has been very friendly and I have been made to feel very welcome. I have been impressed with the amount of talent there is here considering they had just been training in a school gym before now. They are all very enthusiastic and willing to learn which is the main thing."

Scarborough Gymnastics Academy moved from Scalby School to the new facilities in Barry's Lane in September. It is estimated the project cost more than £100,000 and has been funded from a range of sources, including grants.

Gymnast Beate Richings, 12, said: "It's been exciting having Beth here. I have watched her in the Olympics on the TV. She is really nice and has been helping us a lot."

Beth trained Maddie Jepson, nine, while she was on the bars. Maddie said: "It has been really exciting. She has been able to tell us what we can improve on. She told me to pike more when I was on the bars and to imagine there was something above me that I was trying to reach. It did really help and I will think about what she has told me when I am doing it in the future."

Head coach Nikii Walker said: "The new facilities here are excellent and much-needed. We have been wanting to develop something like this for the last six years. Beth is a fantastic role model for the kids. We have all been really overwhelmed meeting her, and the kids have really tried their best while she has been here."

The club treated Beth to a special gymnastic display and she was shown a short film about how the club had evolved, and the move from Scalby School to the new facilities. Beth accepted the club's invitation to open the new facilities after seeing a presentation on DVD made by the children.

Miss Tweddle was the 2006 World Champion and European Champion on the uneven bars. She was the first gymnast from Britain ever to win a medal at the World and European Champion-ships, and is considered to be the most successful British gymnast of all time."

Interview with Ksenia Semenova

"I'm having a rest after the European championships," laughs Ksenia Semenova. "Of course I must go to training, but only short sessions. Maybe I will go to the cinema."

At Europeans, you won three medals. How would you rate your performance?

"About a four. I know I did well, but I'm not completely happy. I could have done a lot better in beam finals. Despite the bronze in floor, I'm not absolutely happy with that either. But the bar final turned out well in the end!"

Nevertheless, you had to concede the UB title to Beth Tweddle...

"Yes, and we competed against each other last year also, at Europeans. Then she made errors, and I won the final. But here, Tweddle's difficulty score was two-tenths above mine. That's a lot. Both of us executed our routines well, but it was the difficulty score that made the difference."

Tweddle is seven years you senior, and more powerful. Does this give her an advantage?

"I don't know. It could work either way. Results come to those of all ages, no matter how many times you have competed. I didn't feel any disadvantage because of my age."

This year you began to train all-around. Has this weakened your favourite event, uneven bars?

"I wouldn't say so; they are at the same level as before. Basically, I trained all-around now, and earlier, but now I am improving the apparatuses that are not as good - vault and floor. I'm still training as much as I did before the Olympics, but it is organised differently.

Was it your decision to train all-around?

"My coaches decided, but I'm happy to do it."

You know that the last European all-around champion we had was Svetlana Khorkina, seven years ago?

"Yes. I know Sveta, and we sometimes communicate. No, she doesn't give me any special advice, just chatting."

Do you like Khorkina's style?

"Yes, but also Tweddle, and Romanians Steliana Nistor and Sandra Izbasa."

Was it hard to begin training again after the Olympics?

"[can't understand] but then I began to train as before. It seems to me that I am now taking gymnastics more seriously."

What relationship do you have with the new senior trainer, Alexander Alexandrov?

"His appointment hasn't changed anything for me. I work with my trainer, Marina Nazarovoj, as before. Alexander Sergeevich, of course, watches our training, and sometimes advises or helps."

How is it possible to combine gymnastics with study?

"Somehow it is possible *laughs*. Teachers work with us at Round Lake, in between training, and I also do homework. I don't know what I want to do after school. I haven't thought about it yet."

Beth wins UB! - event finals

Yay Beth won bars with her crazy new routine! - Ksenia came in second (her form seems to have gotten worse, she keeps wobbling in her handstands). She also won bronze on floor:D and Beth took the gold! Sandra didn't medal at all because the judges devalued her triple twist dismount to a 2 1/2; as she'd already performed that, she ended up with no dismount>:( & Ferrari took the silver with watered-down tumbling but actually some effort at dance!! I'm shocked.

Beam was won by Yana Demyanchuk!! with the two Romanians medalling also. I love her routine! Her knee is still wrapped up (it was at WOGA earlier this year).
And another medal for Russia: Yulia was second on vault!! Ariella Kaeslin won; I think she must have fallen in qualifications.

I'll post full results later, when I have time. Haha I have a 2000 world essay due in on Thursday which I started yesterday

Valentina Rodionenko on Euro qualifications

Who will compete in the All-Around? According to regulations, only two gymnasts per country may compete.
"Kristina has a badly injured ankle. So we will put Afanasyeva in instead of her."

In your opinion, how likely is it that Ksenia Semenova will win?
"More than likely. The most important thing is not to waver. Tomorrow it begins again at zero. And it will be necesary to win again."

Will Semenova perform to standard on bars? Will today's fall affect her?
"I very much hope that Ksenia will recover from the fall, though it will be difficult. It is a new, complicated routine (?), and it causes problems. And there is strong competition: Beth Tweddle from England, in excellent form!"

(BTW: if Ksenia had not fallen, she would have a higher UB score than Beth by about a couple of tenths.)

European qualifications!!

Ksenia Semenova is in first place after qualifying round with 57.625!!!!!!!!!!!
Also Yulia Berger qualified first to vault final!!!!

VAULT
Yulia Berger RUS 14.287
Jana Komrskova CZE 14.225
Anna Kalashnyk UKR 14.112
Kim Bui GER 14.087
Aagje Van Walleghem BEL 14.075
Ariella Käslin SUI 14.062
Becky Downie GBR 14.025
Wyomi Masela NED 14.025

BARS
Beth Tweddle GBR 15.275
Anja Brinker GER 15.025
Ksenia Afanasyeva RUS 14.825
Youna Dufournet FRA 14.750
Anastasia Koval UKR 14.625
Valentyna Holenkova UKR 14.500
Becky Downie GBR 14.475
Ksenia Semyonova RUS 14.425 (with a fall on her pak)

BEAM
Vasiliki Millousi GRE 14.725
Anamaria Tamarjan ROM 14.525
Ksenia Semyonova RUS 14.475
Yana Demyanchuk UKR 14.450
Valeria Maksyuta ISR 14.375
Gabriela Dragoi ROM 14.350
Marine Petit FRA 14.050
Yasmin Zimmermann SUI 14.025

FLOOR
Beth Tweddle GBR 14.975
Sandra Izbasa ROM 14.475
Vanessa Ferrari ITA 14.425
Ksenia Semyonova RUS 14.400
Anamaria Tamarjan ROM 14.200
Ana Maria Izurieta ESP 14.050
Lia Parolari ITA 14.025
Valentyna Holenkova UKR 13.950


Anamaria Tamarjan was second in the all-around standings and Diana Chelaru in 15th; Yana Demyanchuk is in 4th!! good for her. The other Russian to qualify was Kristina Goryunova in 16th.
Afanasyeva had a rough day, falling on pretty much everything...in bars she only mucked her dismount so managed to qualify. Aarghhhh

& Beth's new routine is incredible!! I saw her performance from Jesolo...Iit should be a great showdown between her and Ksenia. I'm not sure which one I want to win!

Jesolo roster

Here is the roster from the Italian website:

Italy Senior: Paola Galante, Elisabetta Preziosa, Army, Licchetta, Lia Parolari, Rando, Vanessa Ferrari
Junior: Fasana, Ferlito, De Agostini, Scantamburlo, Rupini, Carnessali

Brazil Senior: Ana Claudia Silva, Ethiene Franco, Bruna Leal, Khiuani Dias, Daniele Hypolito, Priscila Cobello
Junior: Anna Caroline Cardoso, Nicolle Beltrame, Janaina Silva, Nadhine Ourives, Leticia da Costa

Romania Senior: Sandra Izbasa, Anamaria Tamarjan, Diana Chelaru (hooray she's senior now), Daniela Druncea, Gabriela Dragoi
Junior: Amelia Racea, Raluca Haidu, Diana Trenca

The only Chinese gymnast named is He Ning, but I'm assuming they're sending more.

Good luck Beth and Sandra!!

GBR Competitions

British seniors and juniors will soon be off to the Jesolo Competition in Italy, where they will compete against Brazil, China, Romania and Italy from 13th-15th March.

The team roster:
SENIOR: Rebecca Wing, Marissa King, Hannah Whelan, Rebecca Downie, Laura Jones, BETH TWEDDLE! I’m so happy she’s not retiring yet.
JUNIOR: Nicole Hibbert, Danusia Francis, Jennifer Pinches, Niamh Rippin, Jocelyn Hunt, Ruby Straw.

Following Jesolo is a Junior meet against Romania (March 21st)
The lineup: Nicole Hibbert, Danusia Francis, Lizzie Beddoe, Niamh Rippin, Jocelyn Hunt, Ruby Straw, Jessica Hogg.