The Irish team for the world age group championships in tumbling began build up for the event in Lillishall National sports centre in Shropshire, England last week. This had firstly the advantage of Lillishall has just taken on the track for the 2010 European championships which will take place in Bulgaria next April, and secondly the team would be the first to use the new fast track installed earlier this year. With a week preparation complete it was onward to Russia for the main event.

The team then travelled to the Russian secondary capital of St. Petersburg Russia. Several changes had occurred in the current cycle, and for the first time the top eight gymnasts would make up the final.

The competition began with the 13- 14 year age group, where Ireland was represented in the boy’s category by Jack Allen and Jack Doyle. The event began with Jack Doyle up first with round off five whips flic to full in back out tucked. Jack performed the pass well executed but overstepped the landing zones length and took a deduction. Jack Allen performed a successful run of round off whip flic double tuck 3 whips double tuck.

The competition switched to the girls event were Jessica McFadden opened with double straight and then full twisting whip to a very well performed full in back out tucked. Jessica performed clean routines to finish in 12 places in the world age group.

Ireland’s second day performers Gillian Clarke and Jenny Ryan were performing well in the build up to the event both returning for the cup of Flanders in Belgium with silver and bronzes medals. Gillian opened with double straight and moved to a full twisting double straight and a great difficulty score. However with slight form faults she had to settle on this occasion outside the finals in 11 place, and Jennifer over rotated a great pass of round off full twist to four whips full in pike! Her double straight scored well but not high enough for the final. Both girls very disappointed will have to wait for Europeans were Gillian made a final in 2008 and Jenny was first reserve.

The 11-12 years event began with Orla McKenna and two very good passes of round off five whips flic double tuck and pike. With nerves under control Orla produced the kind of mature performance needed to continue on in the sport making a great double pike and only one mistake in her first pass. Orla finished the event in the top 15 in the world for the age group at 14th place. Orla’s team mate Natasha Nolan began with a great landed Baranii five whips flic double tuck and then for a 30.20 five whips flic double pike to sail into the final with top eight and a chance of a medal. With only three hours before final performance Natasha warmed up Baranni to full in back out but viewing the other finalists it became clear that the three options were double straight from the American gymnasts or full in back out from the British. Natasha opted for the full in back out in the tucked position which gave her the second highest difficulty in the final with only the American’s full in pike ahead. Natasha was second up oi the event, and with great Irish support from the stands she launched into round of five whips flic to full in back out. Her brave effort was unrewarded as her hands hit the floor on landing causing a role forward. The judges however gave the difficulty and Natasha finished the final in eighth place. With this performance Ireland is clearly showing we can compete at this level having had gymnasts in the final at the last three world and European events, with only Russia, U.S.A. Great Britain ahead. A great performance from Natasha which will surely stand well for her future.

The competition moved on to the final days performances in the 17- 18 years boys and girls and clearly the star of the event the 17 year old Russian from Stavropol how performed round off flic full in full out straight to three whips flic triple twisting double straight. His second pass of round off five whips flic full twisting triple was extraordinary!

The team returns for immediate preparation for the European championships which will be held in Varna, Bulgaria next April and with so many of the younger team members performing well with maturity it could be the highlight of 2010.