Champions crowned across the age groups at 2023 Rhythmic Open Welsh Championships

The 2023 Welsh Open Rhythmic Championships took centre stage at Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff over the weekend with two fantastic days of action across the various categories and age groups.

Spectators were treated to some brilliant performances from the gymnasts of Llanelli Rhythmic Academy, Olivia’s School of Rhythmic Gymnastics, Planet Sport and Community and Deeside Rhythmic – along with a host of visiting clubs.

Those included Evoke Gymnastics, Team Bath, City of Birmingham, London Sport Academy, Oxford Rhythmic and Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy Champions.

Saturday saw Levels 1&2 for the Under 10, Under 12, Junior and Senior gymnasts wowing the crowd with their routines.

Then it was the turn the Junior and Seniors at Level 3,  followed by the Intermediate (Level 4) and Elite (Level 5) gymnasts.

The Under 10 and Under 12 Levels 3, 4 & 5 then took to the floor on Sunday, before the Apparatus Finals – featuring six qualifiers on each piece across the Level 4 & 5 Junior and Seniors – rounded off proceedings on Sunday afternoon.

At the Elite end, Elizabeth Popova (Llanelli RGA) added her name to an illustrious list of Welsh Senior champions, which includes Frankie Jones, Laura Halford and Gemma Frizelle.

Twice a former Welsh Junior champion, Elizabeth added the title of Welsh Senior champion on Saturday afternoon – scoring a combined 108.766 across her four pieces.

She then returned to take all four apparatus titles on Sunday.

Meanwhile Llanelli’s Mali-Fflur Lane, having already bagged the Elite Junior trophy, secured silver in the hoop final with Amelie Haines (Evoke) claiming bronze.

It was one of three medals in the Apparatus Finals for Amelie, who also won silver with the ribbon and bronze with ball.

Daryna Lamashevska (Deeside Rhythmic) took silver with clubs.

A notable mention also to Llanelli’s Gabriele Dzejyte (ribbon),  Eleni Spear (ball) and Imogen Payne (clubs) who also qualified for apparatus finals – while Imogen also walked away with overall Intermediate Senior title.

Imogen Coslett was crowned the Welsh Elite U12 champion, with Llanelli clubmates Bonnie Lee Williams and Tabitha Rigg claiming the overall Intermediate Under 12 and Under 12 Level 3 trophies, respectively.

The U10 overall titles were won by Llanelli’s Ella-Rose Thomas (Level 5), Anastasiia Hladka (Level 4) and Liliana Evans (Level 3).

Victoria Lodi Giardelli from Olivia’s won the Level 3 Senior title with Llanelli’s Lowri Hudson leading the way in the Junior Level 3 category.

A huge well done also to Mairwen Thomas (Planet, Senior Level 2 ribbon), Kiera Davies (Llanelli, Junior Level 1 ribbon) and Heidi Morgan Hurst (Olivia’s, Under 12 Level 1 ball) respectively for their gold medals.

Llongyfarchiadau and Diolch to all of the gymnasts, clubs, coaches, judges, parents, officials, volunteers and spectators who all contributed to yet another action-packed weekend of rhythmic gymnastics!

CLICK HERE for all results and winners across all categories.