24th European Championships in Acrobatic Gymnastics
Vila Do Conde (POR), October 1 – 4, 2009

LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, October 5, 2009: The last competitions of the 24th European Championships in Acrobatic Gymnastics in Vila do Conde (POR) attributed the European titles for 2009. A very large audience attended the competition venue for the Senior programme. Russia (Womens Group and Men’s Pair), Belgium (Mixed Pair), Belarus (Women’s Pair) and Bulgaria (Men's Group) are the new title holders.

Mixed Pair
It was a pleasure seeing the five Pairs once again and to wait for the final verdict who of the Pairs - the Belgians or the Russians - would win the title. Thanks to a great and new choreography, Julie von der Gelder and Menno van der Gothe, the favourites of the local spectators, obtained the very high score of 28.655. The Russian Pair Tatiana Okulova and Revaz Gurgenidze seemed not to be too satisfied with their routine (28.250). The British gymnasts Katie Axten and Nicholas Illingworth got this time the second best note of 28.351.

Ranking of the all-around competition:
1. Belgium 86.064
2. Russia 85.253
3. Great Britain 84.908
4. Ukraine 83.250; 5. Lithuania 82.100

Women’s Pair
Seven Pairs competed. The gymnasts from Belgium Florence Henrist and Tatjana De Vos presented a good exercise and got 28.112, to their entire satisfaction. They were closely followed by the Pair from Azerbaijan, Ayla Ahmadova and Dilara Sultanova; one would like to see them a bit more graceful, apart their technical qualities (28.070). The beautiful Pair from Belarus Alina Yushko and Katsiaryna Murashko obtained 27940.

Ranking of the all-around competition:
1. Belarus 84.552
2. Great-Britain 84.106
3. Azerbaijan 83.981
4. Belgium 82.925; 5. Germany 82.261; 6. Ukraine 81.947; 7. Russia 81.403

Men’s Pair
Eight Men’s Pairs competed. Immense applause for the Pair Tiago Figueiredo and Joao Maia. Supported by their public, the two gymnasts from Porto realised a great routine rewarded with a score of 28.455 which couldn’t be beaten – the hall exploded! They can go home with a third medal, a Bronze one. For their combined routine, the Russians got 28.406 and the British 28.262.

Ranking of the all-around competition:
1. Russia 85.356
2. Great Britain 84.526
3. Portugal 84.418
4. Ukraine 83.404; 5. Belarus 83.305; 6. Poland 81.807

Women’s Group
Ten Groups competed. The trio from Portugal has a gymnast who was injured during a recent national championship and could only present the balance exercise; therefore, this trio had to withdraw for the combined. Without surprise, the Russian Group wins easily and one can once again appreciate their brio. Their exercise receives once again the best note of the day: 28.800. The 2008 World Championships runners up leave behind them the Ukrainians (28.450) and the Belarusians (28.150).

Ranking of the all-around competition:
1. Russia 86.187, the best total
2. Ukraine 85.252
3. Belarus 84.658
4. Great Britain 84.540; 5. Belgium 84.009; 6. Poland 80.520

Mens’s Group
The Ukrainians came to Vila do Conde to defend their title, but their hopes fell with the first series of the pyramid. The rest of the exercise showed also smaller faults. Score 25.770 and not much chance to finish on the podium. The Russians (28.207), Belarus (28.101) and the British (28.010) were much better. As the FIG had forbidden the quadruple salto as it is considered too risky, it needed courage to realise the triple salto backwards. The most regular of the three competitions goes home with the title, Belarus.

1. Belarus 83.693
2. Bulgaria 83.489
3. Poland 82.630
4. Great Britain, 82.332; 5. Ukraine 81.859; 6. Russia 81.394

(UEG / adapt. FIG)

The detailed results can be checked here!
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