May 23, 2005

Medal boosts Tweddle's Euro hopes

Gymnast Beth Tweddle continued her fine form ahead of next month's European Championships with asymmetric bars silver at the French International.

BBC News

	A-bars world number one Tweddle is going for gold in Debrecen

The 20-year-old was just pipped to top honours by the reigning Olympic A-bars champion Emilie Lepennec of France.

Lepennec scored 9.525 to Tweddle's 9.450 in Paris-Bercy over the weekend, while Dariya Zgoba, of the Ukraine, took the bronze medal with 9.375.

Tweddle will be one of five GB gymnasts in action in Hungary from 2-5 June.

Joining the City of Liverpool star will be Rhian Pugh, the 2004 junior A-bars European champion, who makes her debut at senior European level.

Vault specialist Sam Bayley completes the women's line up for Debrecen, while rings expect Ross Brewer and all-rounder David Massam will fly the flag for Britain's men.

Tweddle also finished seventh in her secondary discipline, the floor exercise, in the French capital - a result which her coach Amanda Kirby feels bodes well for Debrecen.

"(On the bars) we didn't expect to win against the French Olympic champion on her home ground," Kirby said.

"But I was extremely pleased with Beth's floor routine in the qualifications.

"She entered the finals in second position, but a fall on a piked Arabian prevented her achieving higher than seventh.

"But we resume training on Monday and look forward to the European battle in in two weeks time."