Friendly Meet Great Britain vs. Romania

2006 GBR v ROM Senior Women's Gymnastics International
- Benfield Centre for Sporting Excellence, Newcastle upon Tyne
Saturday, 26./ 27. August- Team & All-around & Apparatus Finals

Team and All-around Event
- reported by Vera ATKINSON, Baga -

The meet, held according to the 6-5-4-competition format, served as a timely and very useful rehearsal for the World Championships in Aarhus (DEN), in October.
Romania competed with two Juniors in the team (Lacusteanu and Grigore), while GBR introduced changes in their line-up a week before the event, giving a chance to three talented gymnasts without big international experience - Kerri Upton, Olivia Bryl and Emma White.
Both Teams started the event according to the draw for Aarhus (i.e. GBR on Vault and Romania on A. Bars).
Strong Britishers on uneven bars
+ Even without their top performers on uneven bars (the European Champion Beth Tweddle, Shavahn Church and Amy Nunes), the British dominated on this apparatus, 56.15 vs. 55.20 for Romania.
The highest score in the Saturday’s contest belong to Sandra Izbasa – 15.50 on Floor (full in, double pike, 2 1/2 punch front into 1 1/2 , finishing with a triple twist).
“I am very happy with some of the performances; our team competed on a very decent level. Given the fact that none of the teams have achieved their top competitive form as yet, this was an extremely useful competition to make our analyses with regard to the preparation for the World Championships. As for Romania, I wish them success in Aarhus, this time they will really need it!”, said Adrian Stan, British Gymnastics Technical Director for Women.
' As you know, gymnastics coaches are never satisfied. This competition indicated to me some weak sides of our preparation and in the remaining 7-8 weeks we shall pay special attention to them ', said Nicolae Forminte, Head Coach of the Romanian Team.
Source: Baga, V. Atkinson