Success for Leeds Met gymnasts

Leeds Met students enjoyed success at the 2010 British Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Leicester recently showing their international pedigree.

Matthew Firth completed a strong set of routines to come 6th overall in the Senior competition on Saturday, competing against gymnasts who have had success at recent World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Matthew followed this on the Sunday by winning Bronze medal on the Pommel Horse in the Masters event. The Masters competition involves the top 8 gymnasts in the country, regardless of age, on each apparatus.

Sam Fern, a highly thought of young gymnast,  produced an impressive display of strength to take Gold in both the Senior and Masters competition on Rings, beating gymnasts who have medalled in this event at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Sam displayed remarkable professionalism presenting one of the most difficult routines of all the competitors. This performance was repeated at an equally high standard on the Sunday.

Sam commented on his victory: "It feels really good to be the first Leeds gymnast to achieve this double and beating national squad gymnasts gives me a lot of confidence. I trialled for the commonwealth games but missed out by a few places so this really motivated me going into the competition and I want to get back into the national squad."

Ashley Watson placed 3rd overall in the U18 age group and won Bronze on the Pommel Horse, Bronze on Parallel Bars and Silver on High Bar, beating members of the Commonwealth Games team.

He also managed to qualify for 3 Masters Finals: Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars and High Bar. Ashley produced a fantastic routine to win silver medal on the Parallel Bars (obtaining the same score as the winner but in second position due to a count back of deductions).

As a result of his performance at the British Championships, Ashley has been selected to represent Great Britain at the Glasgow Grand Prix on the 19-20 November.

He will compete on the Parallel Bars and High Bar against a world class field of gymnasts across 28 nations, including World and Olympic medallists. This is an incredible opportunity for Ashley to gain valuable experience of competing at a high level and take a step closer towards London 2012 Olympic Games.