Rushmoor Rosebowl 2007

Britain’s most prestigious and longest running Invitational Competition takes place on the 3rd weekend of October each year in Aldershot. The hosts, Rushmoor Gymnastic Club, are led by Colin & Bernie Wright, one of the most famous coaching duo’s in British Gymnastics [daughter Claire is also 7 time British Trampoline Champion].
The Rosebowl always attracts a strong National & International field and this year was no exception. For the first time ever one of the World’s most famous clubs, C.S.K.A. Moscow would be competing.
Teams compete in three sections:
National ~ This year South Africa; England Juniors & England Seniors.
Composite [Teams made up from a number of clubs e.g. regional, county or area teams] ~ This year Kent; Sussex; Surrey; South West; South East; & London G.F..
Club ~ Tolworth; Rushmoor; Pipers Vale; Sparks; Hillingdon; Park Wrekin; Bristol Hawks; Dynamo & C.S.K.A. Moscow.
With our first placing in the Club section from last year we were seeded into the 4th round. With the format 5 in a team and 4 scores to count on each piece we were already at a disadvantage over many teams as Rhian [just coming back into competition] was only competing on Beam leaving us with all scores to count on the other 3 pieces of apparatus. Knowing we had Rhian up last steadied our teams nerves on our first piece beam and Hannah did a fantastic job for the team by going up first and sticking. Her routine included her new element:Free Round-off. Dismounting with a double twist she completed a successful beam which won her a place in the beam final with a 12.95. Laura also nailed her routine scoring 12. On floor Laura went up first and produced a personal best performance to give a great start to our team. Stacey with her new choreography was steady and Hannah not only landed her double pike but in the area too saving the team valuable points. Carolyn anchored the team by landing her double twisting front at the end of her routine.
Next up Vault and with one vault each all to count it was nerve wracking. Again Laura and Stacey did a good job landing on their feet after their Tsukahara’s. Carolyn produced a stunningly good vault which also landed her in Sunday’s Vault final 13.45 scored. On bars Stacey gave us a wobbley start but made it through to the end, Hannah did a great job with her very new bar routine, Laura battled through her routine and just overdid the dismount. Last up was Carolyn but it woundn’t be her last performance as she had qualified for the Vault Final the next day ~ this didn’t stop the team shedding tears as we reflected on the end of an era of Carolyn as our Elite Girls Team Captain.
Although we made some errors it was a good team performance and all played their part in giving Carolyn a competition to remember as her last. When the presentations came we realized that as a club we couldn’t have placed higher ~ we were second to that very famous Moscow Club CSKA who incidently also won the Overall Rosebowl beating the England Senior National Team.
Colin & Bernie presented a Rosebowl to Carolyn, on her retirement, in recognition of her special contribution to the sport in G.B. A great honour and very generous gesture!

Finals Day The top 10 in each apparatus [out of the whole 93 gymnasts in the competition] compete again for the apparatus titles ~ Hannah had done very well to qualify 7th in the beam final in very good company. She competed against 3 Russians [1st, 2nd & 3rd] two Senior England Team members [4th & 5th] and produced another clean routine to up her position and finish 6th. A fantastic achievement WELL DONE Hannah.
Carolyn had qualified 8th for the final & you need 2 different vaults [from different groups] to count to your overall score. Carolyn started with her favourite Handspring 1 1/2 front somi off. It flew & it landed dead WONDERFUL. Her second vault she has not practised for over a year and her coach was slightly worried!! but needn’t have been as she landed her Tsukahara too -to up her position to 6th. A great end to a GREAT gymnastics performance career. We wish her all the very best for the future and hope she continues to coach and work for the club inspiring a new generation of young gymnasts.
Check out our results page for full results of the competition.