GYMNASTICS Historic European Bronze for Irish Tumblers

The Irish tumbling team lifted bronze at the European Junior Tumbling Championships in Varna, Bulgaria yesterday.

Gillian Clarke (16), Jennifer Ryan (15), Jessica McFadden (13) and Natasha Nolan (13), all from Millennium tumbling club in Co.Cavan, beat Russia and Ukraine to finish in the top three at the team event.

They scored 91.3, just 0.4 points behind the winners-Great Britain.

The girls technically placed joint second with Poland, but in the event of a draw execution marks are taken into account, which left them in third.

Coach, Craig Filmer, said: "I always believed the team would be able to do it. We are completely fulfilled with our work. Coach and gymnasts are delighted and with the aid of Irish gymnastics, as a forward thinking governing body, we have achieved great results."

Irish judge, Lisa O'Reilly, said: "The girls have great style and confidence and put pressure on top European teams."

Gillian Clarke finished in 6th place overall at the 2010 Junior European individual final.

Gillian attempted one of the most difficult runs of the junior event in an attempt to go head to head for medal placing.

Unfortunatley a slight mistake cost her a medal place, but she gained huge experience in uping her game to the standard required of a senior competitor.

She showed difficulty and confidence and placed pressure on top european Countries.

Luke Carson Places 16th Overall at the 2010 European Men's Championships - Team Hopes Dashed by Ash Cloud Travel Disruptions

Luke Carson finished the qualification stages yesterday at the Senior European Championships in Birmingham in 16th place.

He competed on all 6 pieces of apparatus and scored 76.650.

Carson said: "I felt very confident and I couldn't have prepared any better, but my nerves destroyed me. I need to be more relaxed and not let my nerves get the better of me."

The 20-year-old was disappointed with his performance and said even though he didn't fall he felt his scores were lower than he had hoped for and previously achieved in preparation competitions for the championships, having previously lifted the bronze medal at the recent Northern European Championships in November.

Luke Carson, Anthony O'Donnell(19) and Geff Rellis(19) stepped up to the podium representing Ireland at the senior men's event.

The men were competing for apparatus rankings, but were devastated not to be able to compete in the team event due to the fact that team-mate Rohan Sebastian, resisding in America, was unable to fly to the U.K due to the ash cloud and was subsequently forced to withdraw.

Junion Men Complete Qualification Stages at the 2010 European Gymnastics Championships

The qualifications of the Junior Europeans drew to a close on Thursday 22 April and the Irish team achieved a combined score of 207.200.

Two team members, Chris O'Connor and Daniel Fox, competed on all apparatus and placed 58th and 77th respectively in Europe with scores of 72.625 and 69.925.

Daniel Fox (14) from Douglas gymnastics club, Christopher O'Connor (16) also from Douglas, Adam Dalton (14) from Douglas and Matthew O'Connor(15) from Salto gymanstics club gave it their all, but sadly failed to qualified.

Daniel was the third youngest competitor at the event and exhibited great potential as commented on by the international gymnastics press.

For more information contact ciaran Galagher on: 0879050697 or Kathryn Catney on 07746703583 Irish Gymnastics Website: www.irishgymnastics.ie