Britain's finest female gymnasts gathered at the Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy last weekend to compete in the 20th Rushmoor Rose Bowl, the longest running invitational event in Great Britain.
Starting in 1974 as the Camberley Invitational, with just eight teams, it has grown to be one of Europe's top events, this year attracting 20 teams from as far apart as Yoshka Ola in central Russia to Denver in the USA.
The five rounds made it a demanding schedule for the organisers, but as always the event went flawlessly – a great credit to the team of parents who worked tireless from 7-30 am until midnight to ensure that all the guests went away happy.
It was the Russians' second appearance at Rushmoor. Four years ago, they travelled by train, a journey of six days each way. This year, more conventionally, they came by plane.
The first round was dominated by Pipers Vale from the Eastern Region who set a cracking target of 123.275 for all to beat.
The only team to have won this event from the first round are City of Liverpool, but this time it was not until round four that they again took the lead to win the club event with a total of 127.50.
Liverpool had lost stars to both the GB and Welsh teams at the World Championships in Ghent. Park Wrekin were also depleted and took the bronze.
The final round proved to be one of the most exciting in the Rose Bowl's long history, with the four home nations battling it out in a run-through for next year's Commonwealth Games.
Northern Ireland, sorely missing their brightest star, Holly Murdock, the overall winner last year, still managed a creditable 120.50. But a strong England team took the gold medals and the huge Rushmoor Rose Bowl with a comfortable 133.375. Wales were four marks back with 129.375 and Scotland took bronze with 124.525.
England achieved a clean sweep in the individual medal table, with Samantha Bayley, Amy Bagshaw and Rebecca Owen taking the first three places in that order, despite close pursuit by Holly Templeton and Melanie Roberts of Wales, whose challenge to get on to the podium only failed at the last gasp.
The Rose Bowl is one of the few events in the country to boast an apparatus final. The top ten gymnasts on each apparatus assembled once again on Sunday to do battle for the individual titles.
With finals being run on the stringent Competition 111 rules, scores were sure to drop from the previous day.
In the vault, Gayle Campbell restored Scottish pride by beating England's Rebecca Owen and Amy Bagshaw into second and third respectively with a sky-high piked handspring front, coming to earth with ice on her toes.
Bars was a one-two for England, with Amy Bagshaw taking gold and Cherelle Fenell the silver. Amy's club-mate from Park Wrekin, Sarah Swift, claimed bronze.
The Welsh triumphed on the beam with a fine performance from Olivia Bryll who nudged Amy Bagshaw into the silver slot. The elegant Louise Hill of England, the competition's oldest competitor at 21, showed that her skills are as sharp as ever, taking a deserved bronze.
Samantha Bayley tied for the silver on the floor with Olivia Bryll. However, a stunning display from England's Rebecca Owen, opening with a full twisting double back somersault, tied up the gold medal with an outstanding score of 9.00.
Apart from the fantastic level of gymnastics, the most poignant memory was of the American team marching into the arena wearing T-Shirts proclaiming in large letters 'United we Handstand' under intertwined American and British flags. This brought them a standing ovation.
l The organisers are already planning next year's Rushmoor Rose Bowl and are looking for a major sponsor to help finance this great event. For information on this exciting marketing opportunity, contact Colin Wright on 01252 320888.