Acrobatic | Medal Success at 2022 Acrobatic British Championships
Scottish acrobatic partnerships claimed three national titles and eight championship medals at the 2022 British Acrobatic Championships at Fenton Manor Sports, Surrey on Saturday 12 November.
The 11-16 age group competed both a balance and dynamic routine as part of the first round, with one of their routines being performed again to determine the medal winners.
For the 12-18, 13-19 and senior age groups, exciting skills and complex choreography in dynamic routines came first, with the strength and control of balance routines in the second round. Then came combined routines in the final where national champions were crowned.
Acrobay’s 11-16 women’s pair, Grace Crawford and Ava Curtis performed consistently well in the first round, with a total score of 50.000 leaving them in second place. Performing their dynamic routine again gave them a second chance to show off their skills and personality in the final. Matching their artistry score from the first round, but dropping 0.10 in execution, the pair finished just outside of the medals in fourth place.
All podium places for the 11-16 women’s group competition were occupied by partnerships from Acrobay, with Ella Gracie, Scarlett Haldane and Emma Nelson taking home the gold medal in the final, thanks to a fantastic artistry score, and great execution in their balance routine – a standout for the partnership at recent national championships back home where they secured a new personal best execution score. The trio are no stranger to the podium after winning gold at the 5th Budapest International Acrobatic Cup in October and when back in 2019 where Scarlett became British champion as the top in her previous partnership.
Teammates Katie Hendry, Hannah Johnston and Ruby Melville took home silver, with Cara Davidson, Caitlin Mackinnon and Aimee Osborne claiming bronze.
In the 12-18 women’s group competition, there was a bronze medal for Nieve Ewart, Ellie Farwell and Eve MacFarlane (East Kilbride) after their total score of 51.720 in the first round put them into third place. They held their ground with a combined routine packed full of power and dynamism and scored a solid 25.990.
Experience paid off for Acrobay’s Nephele Idehen and Daisy Campbell, confident in their performances and scoring consistently well to become the British champions in the 12-18 women’s pairs competition. Thanks to some thrilling tumbling, strong balances and expressive choreography, their 1.400 score lead after their balance and dynamic routines put them at the top of the scoreboard ahead of their disco-inspired combined routine in the final.
They scored 27.170 to take home the gold medal, adding to a recent collection of national and international medals which contributed to them being named finalists for junior gymnast of the year in the Scottish Gymnastics Awards earlier this month. Emma Logan and Gemma Russell from Dynamic took another of the podium placings in this category, bringing the bronze back to Glasgow.
There were two more medals for Scottish partnerships in the 13-19 women’s group competition. Dynamic trio, Karla Hillcoat, Emillie Keenan and Tia Kidd performed a highly skilled and technically difficult routine in their final, scoring 26.240 to become the new British champions. East Kilbride’s Caitlin Mackinnon, Abbie Mailey and Eva Ross had a higher execution score in their final routine, finishing with a total of 26.090 and taking the silver medal back to their club.
Wendy Purdie, Scottish Gymnastics performance manager said:
The impressive performances of all of the partnerships representing clubs from Scotland at this year’s British Acrobatic Championships are testament to the hard work of the gymnasts and their coaches in their clubs, and during the performance camps over the last twelve months.
Congratulations to the gymnasts and coaches on their medal success. We look forward to following their progress over the next year.
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