Huntingdon Gymnastics Club chief praises his British Championships medal marvels
Louis Smith in action on the pommel horse during the British Championships. Picture: Nigel French/PA Wire. - Credit: PA
Huntingdon star Louis Smith was pipped to British Championships glory in a high-class pommel horse competition last weekend.
Huntingdon Gymnastics Club talents Patrick Murphy (left) and Jake Jarman (right) show off their medals won at the British Championships. - Credit: Archant
Smith earned a score of 15.800 for a well-executed routine of immense difficulty to take the silver medal at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
Fellow Great Britain international, and reigning world champion, Max Whitlock struck gold with a 16.250 score.
Smith’s performance should earn selection for the European Championships in Bern, Switzerland, at the end of next month, but clubmate Daniel Keatings is likely to miss out after only finishing 11th in the pommel horse in Liverpool with a score of 13.850.
But there was more joy for Huntingdon courtesy of two of their blossoming talents in the Under 16 junior boys’ section.
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Fourteen year-old Jake Jarman continued his emergence by claiming bronze in the all-around competition and silver on the high bar.
Clubmate Patrick Murphy (16) took bronze on the pommel horse and silver on the parallel bars.
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Huntingdon head coach Paul Hall said: “It is good to see Louis maintaining his progress in his quest for selection for an incredible third Olympics.
“He is desperate to earn a shot at an elusive gold medal which would complete the full set for him after bronze in Beijing and silver in London.
“I’m also very encouraged by the results of our junior gymnasts at the British Championships. The performances highlight that the club is continuing its rich tradition of producing medal-winning gymnasts with the potential to represent their countries at the highest level.”
Another Huntingdon talent, Lottie Smith, also impressed to finish 16th in the senior women’s event. She worked pleasingly across four pieces of apparatus.
Benji Eyre gave solid displays on the rings, pommel horse and parallel bars to finish 26th all round in the Under 18 men’s category.
Tony Deuchars performed well in the same section as a guest.
The young Irishman finished ninth in the all-round standings. His best contribution was a fourth on the high bar.
