Laura gets Welsh spot

NINE-year-old Laura Halford has become the first rhythmic gymnast from Swindon to be selected for the Welsh national squad, and is in line to represent her country at next year's Commonwealth Games. Laura, competing in trials in Cardiff, not only achieved the pass mark for acceptance into the full Welsh squad, she also scored the second highest mark of the day, beating other athletes who had already competed in international competition.

She said: "I would have just been happy to pass, but to come second against such good gymnasts is brilliant." She is a member of the Swindon-based Esprit Gymnastics Club. With the region traditionally regarded as the strongest for gymnasts, the success Esprit has enjoyed is nothing sort of phenomenal considering the club has only been established for a year.

Laura teamed up with Micia Falaki and Jade Faulkner, both aged 11, and secured Esprit their first national championship gold medal ú at their first attempt. Unlike artistic gymnastics, which is famous for its strength, balance and acrobatics, rhythmics is all about poise, flexibility and dance while throwing, catching and balancing various equipment such as hoops, ribbons, clubs or a ball.

Micia, Jade and Laura performed a routine to music that was, in the words of their coach Deb Hows, "almost faultless and well deserving of the gold medal." She said: "These three girls have not stopped working in the run up to this competition and were determined to give a good account of themselves. "To win a medal of any colour at a national championships is a major achievement but to win gold at the first attempt is nothing short of phenomenal."

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