Cham and Archer Crowned Scottish Champions
Scotland is celebrating two new champions after Kelvin Cham and Shannon Archer won the Scottish national artistic men’s and women’s all-around senior titles.
The pair were crowned in front of a sell-out crowd at the Scottish National Artistic Gymnastics Championships at Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth last Saturday (4 March). More than 100 gymnasts took part in the two-day event which was part of the Team Scotland Series.
For 18 year-old Cham, it was a case of starting his first senior season in the same way he finished his junior years, having won the respective age-group title 12 months ago. He finished marginally ahead of his team mate David Weir, with Southport’s Frank Baines in third.
With the defending and three-time champion Danny Purvis out of contention for the all-around title, as he was only competing over three apparatus – pommel horse, parallel bars, and floor – the competition opened up for the rest of Scotland’s men, and Cham was happy to take advantage. He said: “It was really good. I was very nervous for the first competition but I’m really happy with the result and some new scores.
“The first target was to win but it was specific scores I wanted to get. I got some, some I didn’t but there were slight mistakes I can fix. It was a great achievement. I’m extremely happy.”
Like-wise for the women, with the defending champion Cara Kennedy only contesting the asymmetric bars on her way back from injury. Archer was third last year and was delighted with gold ahead of Sofia Ramzan from Dundee 2K and another City of Glasgow gymnast, Carly Smith.
Speaking after winning the title, Archer said: “I am very happy with how it went. I have been working very hard as it’s the start of the qualifying period for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and it’s important to get off to a good start so I’m happy and relieved.
“Since the last Games, it has all been about working on the upgrades to get to the level you need to for the next Games. I’ve still got a few upgrades I can add into my routines but it’s looking good so far.
“I’m 18 and started when I was five so I’ve been doing this for a very long time. It takes time to get to where I am right now and I’ve had a few knockbacks along the way but it’s getting there now and I’m feeling strong now so I’m very happy.”
The victories for Archer and Cham were also a double celebration for the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club, and their success did not stop there. Pavel Karnejenko won the junior men’s and Crystelle Lake won the espoir all-around titles, their women’s team picked up gold, and several of the club’s gymnasts won apparatus finals at different age levels and in the disability masters on Sunday.
MEN’S ARTISTIC ALL-AROUND CHAMPIONS
Boys (under 12): Reuben Ward (Leeds) 70.750
Inter (under 14): Rory Smith (Lasswade) 69.200
Youth (under 16): Cameron Lister (Pipers Vale) 70.435
Junior (under 18): Pavel Karnejenko (City of Glasgow) 77.769
Senior: Kelvin Cham (City of Glasgow) 75.734
WOMEN’S ARTISTIC ALL-AROUND CHAMPIONS
Espoir (12/13 in year of competition): Crystelle Lake (City of Glasgow) 46.700
Junior: Ellie Russell (West Lothian) 46.700
Senior (aged 16 and over): Shannon Archer (City of Glasgow) 49.084
Team: City of Glasgow: Crystelle Lake, Megan Morrison, Carly Smith Sarah McKenzie, Shannon Archer 143.585