2011 British Championships

The British Championships is the top event in the domestic gymnastic calendar. This year it was given the setting it’s status deserves by being held at the excellent Echo Arena in Liverpool. The apparatus was set up on a podium which emulated the situation you would find at a major event such as an Olympic Games, World or European Championships. This gave our top British gymnasts valuable experience for future international events.
For Bristol Hawks gymnast Claudia Fragapane this was an ideal opportunity to step out of the shadows and shine. Claudia, who achieved the qualification requirements for the British Championships in 2008, has had to miss the last two British Championships with minor injuries. This year she made her mark on the British gymnastic scene by putting in a superb performance in the Junior All Around event to place 8th overall. She was the top placed South West gymnast at the event & had only seasoned GB team members above her. In addition to this she qualified for the next day’s apparatus finals on both Floor & Vault. She showed just how at home she is at this level by rising to the occasion and moving up in the rankings on floor to place 6th. Even better on the Vault where she stuck her Full twisting Yurchenko & Straight Tsukahara to win the bronze medal.
You can watch Claudia’s fantastic achievements on the British Gymnastic website.