Combined Championships Deliver Fresh Format and Title Winners
Rhythmic and acrobatic gymnasts experienced a brand-new competition, with the first combined championship event for the two expressive disciplines and new national champions crowned in Edinburgh at the weekend.
The thrilling event on 17 and 18 June at Meadowbank gave the audience and competitors the chance to experience the skills of more than one hundred competitors in both disciplines.
The first session opened with rhythmic gymnastics groups, Beacon’s gymnasts winning gold at senior and junior level five. In the level three individual categories, Hania Czebreszuk, also from Beacon Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, became champion thanks to an overall score of 30.468, with her clubmate Sophie Johnston winning the senior title in this category (32.634).
The afternoon saw the remaining battle for medals, with close competition in both disciplines. At level four, the junior rhythmic champion was Annabel Weir from Pentland who scored 61.867 across hoop, ball and ribbon routines. Fresh from her golden performance at the British NDP finals, Pentland’s Murrin Mclean won the level four senior Scottish title.
In acrobatic, six new national champions were crowned, with Avondale’s Hayla Mcbain and Grace Black winning the youth women’s pair category. Kilmarnock trio Robyn Pow, Ashlyn Hope and Ellie Calder became the youth group winners.
Acrobay’s Hannah Johnston, Katie Hendry and Ruby Melville topped the podium in 11-16 women’s group, with Avondale’s Imogen Board and Amelia Burns finishing in first place for the pairs. Their clubmates Emma Nelson, Scarlett Haldane and Ella Gracie claimed the Scottish title in the 12-18 category while new trio Molly McHale, Nephele Idehen and Daisy Campbell won the 13-19 age group, a strong 28.550 for their combined routine contributing to their win.
Commonwealth silver medallist Louise Christie closed the first day of competition with her rousing ribbon routine to take the senior level five title for the second year in a row.
Day two saw the younger age groups and disability rhythmic gymnasts competing for medals. Beacon won quadruple gold with level one junior gymnast Liya Reid winning both her hoop and ribbon routines, Aleksandra Wydrzynska the level two junior contest, and Lucy Mcallister taking top honours at level two senior.
City of Glasgow gymnasts shone in the disability competition, with Alistair Kemley scoring 16.250 for clubs and winning gold for class one level two gymnasts, while Grace Moultrie won the ribbon competition in the same category. There was double gold for Mellisa Cassidy and Marlee Watson in class two with Charlie May Stewart completing a successful afternoon with gold in the class one level one competition for hoop.
Congratulations to all winners at the combined championships.