HUNTINGDON gymnast Daniel Keatings marked his return to action after injury with a strong second-placed finish at the Scottish Championships in Perth at the weekend.

HUNTINGDON gymnast Daniel Keatings marked his return to action after injury with a strong second-placed finish at the Scottish Championships in Perth at the weekend.

Keatings, who is back after tearing knee ligaments in April last year, worked on all six apparatus, scoring 84.75 to finish second behind Worlds medallist Daniel Purvis from Southport.

He will now be keen to fight for selection for the European Championships, which take place in Berlin in April.

The remaining senior and junior gymnasts from Huntingdon took part in the English Championships in Stoke.

In the senior event, Louis Smith managed to retain his pommel horse title with a score of 15.00.

European medallist Sam Oldham finished eighth in his first senior event, while club mates Luke Carson and Ahmahd Thomas worked well, scoring 80.20 and 79.85 respectively.

Sunday’s competition saw junior gymnast William Mas perform well over six routines to score 70.30, earning him 11th place.

Harrison Cooper-Lewis finished in 21st place and team mates Benjy Eyre and Tony Duchars, competing as guests, scored 67.85 and 64.45.

Next up for the Huntingdon Gymnastics Club members is the London Open event next weekend, while Smith travels to Paris for a Grand Prix event at the end of March.

On the girls’ side, Becky Morris and Becky Smith also travelled to Stoke to take part in the English Espoir Championships.

Morris, 11, and Smith, 12, produced some quality work with Smith just missing out on a bronze medal on floor by 0.05 for an excellent routine.

Claire Stock showed some good work in the senior competition but falls from the bars and beam proved costly, as she finished 11th overall.