Welsh Juniors Compete In France

Junior and mini dragons on apparatus finals day. Top row L-R Amelia Thomas, Sioned Thomas, Paige Thomas. Bottom row L-R Poppy Stickler, Jea Maracha, Amy Oliver

There is an abundance of talent in the Welsh ranks at the moment, eleven gymnasts across the GB development, junior and senior squads, just the tip of the iceberg when you see the results they are having coming through the age group levels.

GB junior squad members Amelia Thomas (2nd year Espoir), Paige Thomas, and Sioned Thomas (1st year juniors), were joined by GB development squad members Amy Oliver, Jea Maracha, and Poppy Stickler (all level 2), as the young Welsh team headed to France for La Cup Sarreguemines.

In the team event the girls competed in two teams, but all together, so no separation by age. Amelia, Paige, and Sioned finished third with 135.75 including the highest beam total, Poppy, Jea, and Amy finished 4th with 134.20. The two teams representing France took gold and silver here with 142.55, and 140.35 respectively.

Sioned, Amelia, and Paige taking third place

Individually, in the junior division Paige finished 4th with 45.950, including the top score on bars, and the 4th highest floor score. Sioned was 5th with 44.950 including the highest vault and floor scores, and Amelia was 6th with 44.850 including the second highest bars score.

In the Espoir division, Amy placed 2nd with 45.800 including the equal highest bars score, and the third highest beam. Jea placed 4th with 44.900, including a big beam score of 12.70, 0.75 higher than any of the other competititors in her age group. Poppy placed 6th with 43.500, the equal highest bars score, and the third highest beam score. Especially impressive results, and the gymnasts who placed 1st, 3rd, 5th between the Welsh girls are all a year older already Espoir level, these mini dragons don’t become Espoirs until next year.

Jea Maracha 2nd place AA Espoirs

For apparatus finals, the girls all competed as one age group again, so for the youngest girls, they were testing themselves against gymnasts up to six years older than them, as there were second year senior gymnasts competing.

On vault Sioned took the title by 0.551 with a 14.034 average, and two very good E scores on her vaults. Vault 1 14.134 (4.6D, 9.534 E) Vault 2 13.934 (4.2D, 9.734E). Sioned’s first vault has her topping the British juniors vault list now for when I update the post, so well very done Sioned.

Vault Champion Sioned Thomas

On bars Amelia took the title by 0.5 with 11.200 (3.8D, 7.4E) great stuff from Amelia who is still an Espoir age gymnast. Paige placed 5th with 10.34 (4.0D, 6.034E), Amy 7th with 9.367 (2.1D, 7.267E), Poppy 8th with (2.0D, 6.834E).

Bars Champion Amelia Thomas

On beam, Level 2’s Jea and Amy qualified for the final, and did incredibly well to take silver and bronze. Beaten only by a gymnast two years older than them, Jea scored 12.900 (4.0D, 8.9E), and Amy 12.534 (4.1D, 8.434E). Superb work from both girls, on my GB junior scores list, occasionally the odd Espoir gymnast will make the list, as I include anyone judged at a junior level. Jea and Amy will be the first level 2 gymnasts to make the list.

Finally on floor, and another medal for Wales, a silver for Sioned with 13.267 (4.3D, 8.967E), just 0.1 away from gold. Level 2 Poppy placed 6th with 11.800 (3.4D, 8.4E)