An Unforgettable Weekend at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre: British Adult Gymnastics Championships 2024

The Lilleshall National Sports Centre was abuzz with energy and excitement from August 2nd to 4th, 2024, as it played host to the British Adult Gymnastics Championships. Competitors from across the UK showcased their skills, resilience, and passion in a weekend filled with inspiring performances and remarkable achievements.

In the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) Introductory Over 18’s category, Chloe Jones from Neath Afan delivered commendable performances, placing 6th on both bars and floor, 10th on beam, and secured 7th place in the all-around competition. The Introductory Over 40’s competition saw Rebecca Hamm from Buckley excel with a 3rd place finish on beam, 6th on bars, 9th on vault, 10th on floor, and 7th in the all-around.

The WAG Novice Over 18’s category was particularly competitive with 55 competitors. Amber Evans of Buckley clinched 1st place on vault, followed closely by her teammate Taija Phillip in 2nd. Mya Davies from Valleys GA impressed by winning 1st place on bars and achieving 3rd on beam and 2nd in the all-around. Mia Bedford from Grays Gym Club also had a standout performance, winning 1st place on beam and securing 3rd in the all-around. Additionally, Seren Richards from Cardiff Central Youth Club and Glesni Powell from Valleys GA impressed on the bars finishing in joint 9^th place on the apparatus.

In the WAG Novice Over 30’s, athletes from various clubs displayed their skill. Jade Cripps from Grays Gym placed 4th on vault and 5th on floor, while Laura Edwards from Olympus finished 3rd on both beam and floor, and 4th in the all-around. Bethan Griffiths from Buckley also showed strong performances across multiple apparatus.

The WAG Novice Over 40’s category was dominated by Ceri Sass from Buckley, who took 1st place on beam, floor, and in the all-around, alongside a 3rd place finish on vault and bars. Kim McShane from CCYC also performed admirably, securing 1st on bars, 2nd on beam and in the all-around, and 3rd on floor. A strong performance by both our Welsh adults in this category.

In the WAG Intermediate Over 18’s category, another highly competitive category seeing over 50 adults compete, Emilia Downes from Buckley stood out with a 2nd place finish on beam, 4th on floor, and 4th in the all-around. Additionally, Abbie Godsall from CCYC, placed 5th on beam and 10th on floor, ending 7th in the all-around. In the Intermediate Over 40’s category, Sarah Jenkins from CCYC displayed exceptional skills, winning 1st on bars and beam, 2nd on floor, and 3rd on vault, to finish in an impressive 2nd place in the all-around.

In the WAG Pro categories, Josephine Gittins from Neath Afan placed 9th on both Bars and Beam in the Over 18’s competition, while Hannah Fargher from Buckley showed her versatility in the Over 40’s with a 2nd place on bars, 3rd on vault, and 5th in the all-around.

Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) saw impressive performances in various categories. In the Novice Over 30’s, Rich Prince from Buckley secured 3rd place on vault and had consistent showings across other apparatus. The Intermediate Over 18’s category was highlighted by Rob Scott from CCYC, who won 1st place on the rings and horizontal bar, and finished 6th in the all-around. Jonathan Davies from YMCA Barry dominated the Intermediate Over 30’s category, winning 1st place on pommel, vault, parallel bars, and in the all-around, while also claiming 2nd on floor, rings, and horizontal bar.

Trampoline and Tumbling events featured strong performances from our Welsh clubs as well. Gareth Slocombe from YMCA Barry triumphed in the Men’s Intermediate Over 30’s Trampoline event claiming the top spot and placed 7th in Men’s Intermediate Tumbling. Sian Lewis from the Royal Navy claimed 1st place in Women’s Novice Trampoline and Tumbling and in the Women’s Intermediate Tumbling competition, Abbie Godsall from CCYC secured a 3rd place finish.

The Acrobatic Gymnastics (ACRO) event saw Hermione Firman and Rebecca Hedley from Olympus achieve 4th place in the Women’s Pair – Combined category.

The weekend at Lilleshall was a celebration of talent, dedication, and the vibrant spirit of gymnastics. Athletes of all ages and levels came together, demonstrating their incredible skills and passion for the sport. Reflecting on the competition, Gareth Slocombe, coach, gymnast and judge at the competition said it was an ‘amazing weekend at Lilleshall, it was great running into so many gymnasts and coaches who each brought an amazing atmosphere supporting each other’. The competition was fierce, but camaraderie and mutual support were ever-present, making it an unforgettable experience for all involved.

For a detailed breakdown of all the results, please visit the British Gymnastics website.