We’re into Olympic year, but there is much more than just the games to look forward to. Of course for the seniors the year will be planned towards Rio in August, as opposed to everything building to the autumn for world championships as it does every other year. With just six gymnasts getting to travel to Brazil, five plus one reserve, there is a huge amount of competition to look forward to before the games, all of which will be assessed by selectors.
For the juniors the big competition this year is Junior Europeans. Just five gymnasts will be selected from a very talented pool of girls, and competition for places will be fierce. Team, AA, and Apparatus medals will be up for grabs for those selected, the Junior Welsh, Scottish, English and British championships from the end of February to the beginning of April will all give strong indication as to likely team members.
Below is the list of competitions through the year I have found so far, events in italics indicate those that gymnasts are yet to be confirmed for, but may be sent to. Many of the events, we have sent gymnasts over previous years.
There will also be many small internationals for both senior and junior gymnasts through the year, details of which will emerge nearer the time.
Here’s to a great year of competition for all our gymnasts!
January
February
19th-21st Baku World Cup
27th-28th Welsh National and Open Championships Espoir, Junior, Senior
27th-28th Scottish National Gymnastics Championships, Espoir, Junior, Senior
March
5th American Cup
5th International Gymnix
12th Glasgow World Cup
12th Womens British Team Championships. Official Olympic Trial
18th English Championships Espoir, Junior, Senior
19th-20th Stuttgart World Cup
24th-26th Doha World Cup
31st Cottbus World Cup (Continues into April)
April
01-03rd Cottbus World Cup (begins 31st March)
08th-10th British Championships Junior, Senior, Disability. Official Olympic Trial
16th-19th Olympic Test Event Rio (Qualified teams may send two gymnasts)
23rd-24th Celtic Cup
28th Osijek World Cup (Continues into May)
30th GB Jr International International V France, Germany, Switzerland
May
01st-Osijek World Cup (begins 28th April)
13th-15th Varna World Cup
07th National Compulsory Level 4 and 3
20th-22nd Sao Paulo World Cup
21st NDP 4,3,2,1
21st may GB Junior International V Italy, Germany
21st May NDP Club Grade National Finals
June
1st-5th European Junior and Senior Championships
11th National Compulsory Level 2 and 1 Finals
23rd-26th June Anadia World Cup
July
August
6th-15th The Summer Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro
September
1st-4th Sainsbury’s School Games
10th Bill McLoughlin National Apparatus Team Championships
10th Compulsory Level 2 and 1 Qualifier
17th Challenge Cups
October
09th Leverkusen Cup
11th Junior Commonwealth Games
21st-23rd Northern European Championships
22nd-23rd Rushmoor Rosebowl
November
03-05 Olympic Hopes Cup Liberec Croatia
04th National Voluntary Age Group Championships Levels 4,3,2
11th – 13th Elite Massilia 11th- 13th
19th Bill Slater British Junior Team Championships
December
02nd-04th British Espoir Championships