The Welsh team came out strong at the 2014 Northern European Championships in Greve, Denmark today, winning the team final by 8.9 points, placing two athletes onto the all-around podium, and leading all on all events but vault going into finals.

Maisie Methuen won gold with a 51.225 with mostly solid routines. Though she looked a bit weak on bars, she stood out on beam with a lovely routine though didn’t qualify to the final because her teammates Angel Romaeo and Latalia Bevan also happened to stand out on beam (Methuen and Romaeo scored the same, though Romaeo won the tie-breaker and will compete in finals). It was easily their strongest event, which is not surprising as the Welsh ladies also showed their prowess on the event at the Commonwealth Games. Truly lovely work there.

Annika Urvikko of Finland, using this competition to help prepare for World Championships, was the silver medalist and qualified into every single event final, while Methuen’s teammate Rebecca Moore earned bronze.

On vault, Norma Róbertsdóttir of Iceland led the pack, with Urvikko and Denmark’s Marie Skammelsen also qualifying among the top. The bars event final will see routines from Welsh leaders Romaeo and Moore, as well as Michelle Lauritsen, Denmark’s specialist.

Welsh gymnast Bevan leads beam followed by Romaeo and Norway’s Solveig Berg, while on floor, Romaeo has the lead followed by Martine Skregelid of Norway (who would have had a much stronger shot at the all-around podium had she not had a very rough bars) and Methuen in third.

All-Around Final Results

Team Final Results

Article by Lauren Hopkins