Rachel Poulton

RACHEL was an International level gymnast with Bristol Hawks. She was selected in 1989 to compete for Great Britain in the world famous Moscow News – Leningrad [now St Petersburg] tournament in what was then the Soviet Union [USSR] but is now Russia.The GB delegation consisted of the legendary John Atkinson OBE Coach Helen May & gymnasts David Cox, Laura Timmins & Rachel. It was a massive competition with 31 Nations taking part most of whom sent their Senior gymnasts making Rachel & Laura amongst the youngest competitors. The Moscow News took place in the vast ‘Olympyiski’ sports complex then you took the overnight sleeper train to Leningrad and competed at the sports complex there. Memories include meeting many of the legends of USSR gymnastics, a visit to the famous Moscow Circus, Boginskaya & Mogilnyi winning the AA, the sensational Annia Portuondo [nee Hatch] competing for Cuba aged 10 years [eventually a World Medalist for both Cuba & USA] her reaction in Leningrad to seeing snow falling for the first time was wonderful!