Wales will be represented by full men’s and women’s teams at the artistic gymnastics Northern European Championships taking place in Sweden this weekend.
Halmstad plays host to this year’s event, which will be streamed on the Swedish federation’s own platform over the weekend.
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The women’s team includes Ruby Evans (Cardiff Olympic/Clwb Cymru Caerdydd), Poppy-Grace Stickler (Capital/Clwb Cymru), Annais Kamanga, (CCYC/Clwb Cymru), Evie Flage-Donovan (CCYC/Clwb Cymru) along with twin sisters Abigail Roper and Emily Roper (both Pipers Vale).
Annais has replaced the injured Mali Morgan (Capital/Clwb Cymru).
The men’s team includes City of Birmingham pair Jacob Edwards and Joe Cemlyn-Jones, Josh Cook (University of Illinois), Theo-Amari Ochana (Heathrow) along with Leeds duo Henry Lewis and Elliot Vernon.
The Welsh delegation is led by physio Sian Knott and includes coaches Tracey Skirton-Davies, Josie Hayes, Pete Haysham and Andy Butcher, along with judges Sarah Twose, Elizabeth Lewis, Paul Edwards and Tom Barnes, as well as chaperone Carol Sargeant.
Both the men’s and women’s teams have enjoyed success at the Northern Europeans in recent years.
At last year’s event in Finland Ruby, Evie and Abi were part of the women’s team who were crowned team champions while Ruby also won gold on vault.
Poppy, who missed out last year through injury, was part of the team who won Northern European team gold and individual all-around silver in Iceland in 2019 while she was still a junior.
Having taken an up-and-coming men’s team to Finland year, some of the top men’s senior gymnasts return this year including Commonwealth Games trio Joe, Jacob and Josh.
Joe and Jacob were also part of the team who won gold in the men’s team event when Cardiff hosted the Northern Europeans in 2021. It was there Joe also bagged a hat-trick of individual golds in the all-around as well as on floor and on pommel.
In 2019 Josh took gold on the rings and was part of the team who won silver which also included Joe and Jacob.
Elliot, who trains at Leeds with former YMCA Barry gymnast Henry, is a promising junior U18 gymnast and who further strengthens the current Welsh men’s squad.
The event also provides another opportunity for gymnasts to compete against the other Home Nations as well as those from the likes of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and hosts, Sweden.
Pob lwc to our Welsh delegation this weekend!