The name Francesca remains on the top of the Rhythmic List

Former twice British Junior Champion Francesca Fox from The City of Bath won her first Senior title in the All-around of this year’s British Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship in Stoke-on-Trent, Saturday 15 November 2008.

Click here to watch on BGTV. 

The 16-year old international gymnast was the clear leader in the competition from the beginning until the end, putting together a total of 48.650pts. In the podium she was joined by Rebecca Earl (i-Star Academy, 38.065), in second and Becky Izzard (Stockport, 37.450), in third place.

Coming out of an injury and left with insufficient time to regain her top competitive form, the 2006/7 British Champion Francesca Jones had to watch the event as a spectator. 

“Francesca Fox has a fiery nature which gives her a performance quality and a very good feel for the music. I am happy with the way she competed today and I believe that this title will boost her confidence and help her in her continuous progress”, said the winner’s personal coach Sarah Binding.

Keziah Gore from the City of Canterbury is the new British Champion in the Junior level.

The Under 13s title went to Rachel Maguire from Llanelli;
Laura Halford  (Esprit Gymnastics) won the Gold medal in the Under 12s;
Nikara Jenkins (Llanelli)- in the Under 11s;
Analisa Hinson (Erewash Valley)- in the Under 10s and
Megan Balabay (Unattached)- in the Under 9s section.

The winners in four newly founded awards with the equivalent of the X-Factor, encouraging the artistry and the performance skills of the gymnasts, which are of vital important for achieving high scores in Rhythmic Gymnastics, were also announced in the end of day. They are as follows:

"Little Miss Princess" (U9 & U10)
Kira Kadwill (South Essex)

"Miss Sparkle" (U11 & U12)
Laura Halford (Esprit Gymnastics)

"Miss Charisma" (U13 & Junior)
Jade Faulkner (Esprit Gymnastics)

"Miss Personality" (Senior)           
Francesca Fox (City of Bath)

During the Apparatus Finals on Sunday the All-around winners in all categories achieved a clean sweep of all available Gold medals.  The one single exception of this was made by Lynne Hutchison (City of Bath). Her Ribbon routine which has put her in a Reserve position for the Apparatus Finals at the 2008 Junior European Championships in Turin, Italy in June, deservingly brought her the British Junior title on this apparatus.