Media Day at British Gymnastics

Photos now online at http://www.f2images-gymnastics.co.uk from the Media Day at Lilleshall NSC the home of British Gymnastics.

Becky Downie trains on beam

The British Womens Senior Team

GB v Switzerland Gymnastics International 28.8.10

Traveled up to Gateshead by train. Taxi from Newcastle station to the arena in Gateshead.  Journey time around four hours each way. Still traveling by train does give the opportunity to edit the photos on the return journey.The lighting in the arena was bright mainly due to the roof windows. This was fine regarding shutter speed but did create a few problems when the sun shone through onto beam,bars and floor! I arrived with an hour before the competition started. This gave me a  to take some images of current British Champion Hannah Whelan.I missed the British Championships in July and this provided a good opportunity to update some stock shots of Hannah and indeed the other British girls. I brought two lenses with me Nikon 200 f 2 and the Nikon 70-2002.8.vr11.In the end the light was good so I decided to use the 70-200 lens, loosing a stop but gaining the flexibility of the zoom.This is especially useful on the floor. The competition was dominated by GB(Rebecca Downie, Jenni Pinches, Danusia Francis, Nicole Hibbert, and Hannah Whelan) who beat Switzerland (Ariella Kaeslin, Jennifer Senn, Jennifer Rutz, Linda Stampfli, Minu Krasniqi) .
The GBR Team scored 168.700 to the Swiss Team’s 152.850.

British Gymnastics Olympic Performance Director Tim Jones said: “It’s been a very strong day with a lot of good performances across the British group. This creates a tremendous challenge and many opportunities as we look to the World Championships and Commonwealth Games selection process; I’m very pleased the girls are making our job so difficult.”

In the All-around event, Becky Downie made a welcome return to the top of the medal rostrum scoring 55.950 ahead of British Champion Hannah Whelan (55.850) and Jenni Pinches (55.300). Swiss star Ariella Kaeslin finished in 5th position scoring 53.100.

Beckie Downie on bars

Ariella Kaeslin of Switzerland on bars

Danusia Francis performs for GB on floor

Hannah Whelan in action for GB

Hannah Whelan performs on floor

Further photos online at http://www.f2images-gymnastics.co.uk

European Championships 2010

The European Gymnastics Championships for men and women is in Birmingham England this year. The event happens over two weeks starting on the 17.4.10 and finishing on 2.5.10. http://www.british-gymnastics.org/site/
I have been covering the Euros for the last 15 years as Official Photographer to British Gymnastics. This year I am also shooting the event as official UEG Photographer http://www.ueg-gymnastics.com

The venue is the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.I have photographed here on many occasions.Transport links are good and the hotel is a 5 minute walk away.A rare luxury.I will be shooting from inside the podium so the main lens camera combination will be the Nikon 200 f2 and aD3.

The Women’s Teams  juniors and seniors include: 2009 World Floor Champion Beth Tweddle, British Senior Champion Becky Downie, and first time Seniors Nicole Hibbert, Danusia Francis and Niamh Rippin. The accompanying Junior Team includes Lizzie Beddoe, who finished 2nd in the All-Around in the 2009 Junior British Championships, UK Schools Games All-Around Champion Laura Mitchell, Venus Romaeo (2nd in the All-around at the British Espoir Championships), British Espoir Vault Champion Rebecca Tunney and Ruby Harrold (4th on Vault at the British Espoir Championships).

Beth Tweddle

Becky Downie

The mens line ups include 2009 World All-around Silver medallist Daniel Keatings, 2008 Olympic Pommel Horse Bronze medallist Louis Smith, and World 6th placed All-around gymnast Kristian Thomas; along with the current Under-18, Under-16 and Under-14 British All-around Champions Reiss Beckford, Sam Oldham and Frank Baines who will compete in the Junior Team.

Daniel Keatings

British Gymnastics, Men’s Technical Director, Eddie Van Hoof said: “We are very excited and looking forward to testing ourselves against the best European Teams in Birmingham. We hope to follow the individual successes from the 2009 World Championships, with success in the Team rankings. Great Britain are current Junior European Team Champions and we know we face a very tough test to retain such a high position.”

Alan Edwards    www.sports-photo.co.uk         http://www.f2images.co.uk