Update from Artistic Worlds in Rotterdam...
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Head of Delegation
Tom Dillon
Podium training today, boys looked well on podium. They had a few areas that will be ironed out by competition. Team now focused on last few days training in preparation for competition on Monday. Rings looking very strong for all three gymnasts. Vaults were also very clean. Despite much international criticism of the spring-boards, Ireland have adapted to the spring-boards with no fuss. High-bar as always favouring the brave, the lights have caused more than a few falls in earlier sub-divisions with the light above high-bar being switched off this evening for last sub-division. Colm Murray has been drawn to judge floor in all-round final.L-R: Luke Carson, Kieran Behan, Anthony O'Donnell
UPDATE: 15th October 2010
Head of Delegation
Tom Dillon
Full results will be posted on the conclusion of the final day of qualification today.
Great day for all!
Of the countries competing with us GB look certain to make team and apparatus finals.
Kieran scored 37.866 for three pieces. Solid Maltese on rings. Parallel bars saw him do Stutz, Bilozerchev (stutz to one bar) combination with glide kip through L sit to handstand. A fall on Tkatchev on high bar was quickly recovered as he repeated the skill and completed his routine.
For Anthony a new Personal Best at a major championships with a score of 75.098. Nice straight Tsuk full twist on vault. On floor he did a huge double Arabian with back with 1.5 twist to finish. Clean high bar with Veronin release and catch safely caught.
Today’s performance represented a personal best for Luke breaking 80 for the first time in a major competition with a score of 80.882. This coming after a busy few weeks. Six clean routines with big dismounts on P Bars and High Bar with lots of ‘difficulty’ throughout. The Deltchev on rings has become ‘his’ skill. He could even afford a step-out on floor and still achieve all round PB. He finished with a top notch pommel routine with triple Russian dismount.
The floor was taking many victims today, Dragalescu fell on his dismount. Several others had missed combination tumbles but the Irish came out fighting. Anthony set the tone with a huge double Arabian to open – Luke took it home with a solid double front dismount… Five pieces down and on to pommels… Minor mistake from Anthony on a travel but he quickly recovered to finish. Luke looked at home on the pommel horse as he finished off his and Ireland’s last routine.
Starting on rings the team of Luke Carson, Anthony O'Donnell and Kieran Behan showed strength and elegance. Crosses, Malteses and planches all held, three solid scores – good start!. On to vault where Anthony and Luke both nailed vaults. P. Bars again saw the boys go clean some nice stuts and diamadov work, dismounts all stuck. Three apparatus complete no falls with Luke and Anthony on-course for personal bests. One fall on high bar but good routines all round, Luke woke up the crowd by deciding to see how high he could launch his triple back dismount - those seated in the top row of the upper-deck were eyeball to eyeball with Luke, however he descended a little too close to the bar for comfort but dismount stuck and another solid score in the bag. Encouraged by coaches Simon and 'Jimmy' boys stayed focused all the way to the finish. Not even a few noisy Irish fans with flags and whistles could distract them.
Excellent day for MAG Team at worlds. Competing alongside GB, Canada, Greece, Thailand and Qatar. The Irish the boys all did some great routines.
• Kieran Behan – 37.866 (three pieces)
• Anthony O’Donnell – 75.098 (new PB)
• Luke Carson - 80.882 (New PB) Irish Men's Results...
click here...
For a post competition video interview with Luke Carson
Tuesday 19th October 2010 - Men complete qualifying round...UPDATE:
Head of Delegation
Tom Dillon
Colm Murray our MAG judge, is currently awaiting his judging assignments for the week, Whilst, on the WAG side, Mairead O’Callaghan is part of the FIG judging team (a prestigious honour for Mairead and Ireland) and will act as a reference judge team and has been assigned to Asymmetric bars.
The boys are all fit and healthy have quickly settled into a training regime in the magnificent multi-purpose Ahoy arena and are training alongside GB, Canada and Greece. For those watching on TV, Dutch TV crews have placed cameras into the vault, rings and beam for some very interesting routine perspectives – vault will never again look the same on the TV.
Men’s Podium training gets underway on October 14th with the boys competing on October 18th. Kieran Behan, Anthony O’Donnell and their coaches have been here since Sunday. Final team member Luke Carson has just arrived from the Commonwealth games where he turned in a great performance.
Over 600 gymnasts and 70 countries take part in what is the first qualification event for the 2012 Olympics. The top 8 men’s and women’s teams qualify for the 2012 games with the next 16 teams having to do battle in 2011 for the final Olympic team spots.
The Irish Men’s delegation have all arrived safely in Rotterdam for the 2010 Artistic World Championships.