Wales men’s and women’s artistic teams announced for 2022 Northern Europeans

Wales will be represented by full teams in both men’s and women’s artistic at next month’s Northern Europeans in Finland after selection was confirmed. 

Jyväskylä plays host to this year’s event from November 18-20.

The women’s team features four of the five gymnasts who represented Team Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this past summer in Mia Evans (Park Wrekin) and senior Clwb Cymru trio Poppy-Grace Stickler, Jea Maracha and Sofia Micallef.

As juniors Mia, Poppy and Jea were all part of the Wales team who won gold in the women’s team competition at the 2019 Northern Europeans in Iceland.

They are joined in the six-strong line-up by juniors Ruby Evans and Evie Flage-Donovan (both Clwb Cymru).

The latter duo’s selection comes following a fantastic year for both.

Ruby won the Welsh junior title in February, before making it back-to-back British junior all-around titles the following month in Liverpool – where Evie won junior Artistic British Championship gold on the beam.. 

Both were selected to represent Team GB at the 2022 Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Slovakia in July, where Ruby bagged a brilliant silver medal on the vault. Both then also went on to represent Great Britain’s junior women’s team at the 2022 European Championships in Munich in August.

Meanwhile an exciting up-and-coming men’s team has been selected with Theo-Amari Ochana (Heathrow), YMCA Barry pair Sammi Morgan and Michael Tang, Henry Lewis (Leeds), Harrison Harris (Valleys Gymnastics Academy) and Iwan Scrivens (Fusion) all named.

Theo won a senior all-around silver medal at the Welsh Artistic Championships in Cardiff back in February where Iwan also won the U18 all-around title.

At the British Championships in March, Henry (vault) and Iwan (pommel horse) both qualified to individual U18 apparatus finals, while Michael was an U18 all-around finalist at the British.

Also part of the travelling Wales delegation to Finland will be coaches Tracey Skirton-Davies, Carol Sargeant, Pete Haysham and Tom Barnes, along with judges Sarah Twose, Paul Edwards and Chris Jones as well as Sian Knott (physio/head of delegation).

Other nations also due to compete at the 2022 Northern Europeans include England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Jersey and hosts Finland.

The 2021 Northern Europeans were held over a memorable weekend here in Cardiff last November. Re-live the action here.