By Carl Field
Wales’ leading artistic gymnasts will return to the competition floor at the end of the month as the countdown starts to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games.
The Welsh Artistic Championships will take place at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff over the weekend of February 26-27.
It marks the return of this event for the first time since 2019 after two Covid-hit years.
Not only are the Welsh titles back up for grabs, but it’s also a chance for those artistic gymnasts battling it out to secure their Team Wales spot for this summer’s Games to impress once again.
On the men’s side, the Welsh senior all-around champions in three of the last four events will be back on show; Benji Eyre (2016), Josh Cook (2018) and Rio Olympian Brinn Bevan – the reigning champion from 2019.
Joining them will be other Commonwealth hopefuls – Emil Barber, North Walian Jacob Edwards, Joe Cemlyn-Jones and Theo-Amari Ochana.
For both Eyre and Cook, they are bidding to go to a second Games having been part of Team Wales on Australia’s Gold Coast four years ago, when Swansea gymnast Barber was also a travelling reserve.
Cook, 21, who hails from Penarth, will return home from Chicago ahead of the championships, where he is currently studying Specialised Chemistry – as well as training and competing – at the University of Illinois.
A shoulder injury forced him to miss the Men’s British Championships and Northern European Championships, both staged in Cardiff, at the back end of last year, but now he is back for his first competitive outing in the capital since the pandemic struck.
“I can’t wait,” said the YMCA Barry gymnast ahead of his homecoming.
“It’s going to be a great feeling to finally be back in Cardiff alongside the Welsh boys. We have built a great team atmosphere over the last few years and I’m really excited to step onto the competition floor again after over two years.
“The last year or two have been really difficult with various injuries and setbacks and, of course, training through the pandemic had its own challenges also. But I am in a good place at the moment, chasing down my all-around scores again, which is really exciting.
“A good all-around score is my main goal and regardless of the outcome I know it will be an exciting and challenging day for us all, battling it out until the last routines.”
On the women’s side and with recent winners Emily Thomas and Latalia Bevan now having retired, there will be a new senior Welsh all-around champion crowned this year with all five Welsh gymnasts in that category all making their senior bows.
Wales’ Commonwealth Gymnast Emily Thomas Bows Out After Serious Knee Injury https://t.co/1BdOPPZkKu
— Dai Sport (@Dai_Sport_) September 20, 2021
The pick of those include Corpus Christi High School pupil Jea Maracha, who finished off her junior career in style at the Women’s Artistic British Championships at the end of November by taking silver in the junior all-around competition and gold on uneven bars.
She turned 16 back in January and will also be sitting her GCSEs this year.
“I am really looking forward to competing at my first Welsh Championships as a senior since it is a big step up from being a junior gymnast,” said Maracha.
“I’m excited to show everyone all of my upgrades that I have been working on in the gym in competition. It would really mean a lot if I do well at the Welsh and all the hard work that I have put into my routines to have paid off.
“My aim is to perform all my upgraded routines in competition and hit those scores for Commonwealth.
“I also want to use this as a stepping stone to build confidence in myself for future competitions in the year. As this is the first competition of the year I want to get back in the habit of having that bit of pressure on me and seeing how well I can deliver my routines.”
One of our Long List gymnasts, Jea Maracha, now steps up to Senior level – her goal is to be part of @TeamWales at @birminghamcg22.@BritGymnastics caught up with Jea to hear all about her experiences in 2021 and goals for the future 💫
👉https://t.co/6p5lKXDLLn pic.twitter.com/VBTY7GDsvx
— Welsh Gymnastics (@WelshGymnastics) February 5, 2022
Also in contention for Birmingham and looking to impress the judges are the likes of North Walian Mia Evans, Whitchurch High School pupil Poppy Stickler and Sofia Micallef – whose uncle Tarki played more than 120 games for Cardiff City and was capped as a schoolboy and at U21 level by Wales.
Mali Morgan, meanwhile, from Llantwit Major, is looking to follow in the footsteps of her famous father Bob by competing at the Commonwealth Games this summer.
Bob Morgan is a five-time Commonwealth Games representative and one of Britain’s greatest divers. He is included on the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame’s ‘Roll of Honour’ and won gold, silver and bronze at the Commonwealth Games.
“Dad loved competing at the Commonwealth Games,” said 15-year-old Mali. “When I was little I just thought that is what people did!
“I realise now what hard work it must have taken my dad. He is a huge support for me and understands what it all means for me.”
Along with the seniors, there will also be plenty of fantastic action from gymnasts across the different age groups on both days of competition in the all-around competition and apparatus finals.
Tickets for the Welsh Artistic Championships are now on sale via Eventbrite. Welsh Artistic Championships Tickets, Sat 26 Feb 2022 at 09:00 | Eventbrite