Irish Junior European Tumbling Team Bronze Medallists
Update: Gillian Clarke has finished in 6th place overall at the 2010 Junior European individual final.
Gillian attempted one of the most difficult runs of the Junior event in an attempt to go head to head for medal placing.
Unfortunatley a slight mistake cost her a medal place, but she gained huge experience in uping her game to the standard required of a senior competitor.
She showed difficulty and confidence and placed pressure on top european Countries.
The Irish tumbling team lifted bronze at the European Junior Tumbling Championships in Bulgaria yesterday.
Gillian Clarke (16), Jennifer Ryan (15), Jessica McFadden (13) and Natasha Nolan (13), all from Millennium tumbling club, beat Russia and Ukraine to finish in the top three at the team event.
They scored 91.3, just 0.4 points behind the winners-Great Britain.
The girls technically placed joint second with Poland, but in the event of a draw execution marks are taken into account, which left them in third.
Coach, Craig Filmer, said: "I always believed the team would be able to do it. We are completely fulfilled with our work. Coach and gymnasts are delighted and with the aid of Irish gymnastics, as a forward thinking governing body, we have achieved great results."
Irish judge, Lisa O'Reilly, said: "The girls have great style and confidence and put pressure on top European teams."
