By Hannah Blackwell
An assured debut in the European Gymnastics Championships from Ruby Evans could not quite inspire Great Britain to a successful defence of their title in Italy.
The GB women’s senior team – of Welsh star Evans, Becky Downie, Alice Kinsella, Abigail Martin and Georgia-Mae Fenton – had to settle for silver behind the host nation in Rimini, Italy.
The team finished with 162.16 points to finish on the podium alongside new champions Italy and bronze medal winners France.
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Cardiff gymnast Evans, 17, was one of two European Championships debutantes for GB, alongside 16-year-old Martin.
Downie said: I”m super proud of the team today and personally so happy to have put the big routine out there and get the score for these amazing girls.
“We couldn’t have done much more as a team today and to see how Abi and Ruby, in particular, performed in their first Europeans was incredible. It feels like we’re in a really good place as a team and I’m excited to see what might come this summer.”
The British team began the competition on vault alongside Italy who were cheered on by a passionate home crowd.
Fenton settled any team nerves with a fantastic opening vault stuck perfectly to score 13.666 with Kinsella following up in style, scoring 14.1 and Evans cementing the team’s brilliant first apparatus by scoring 14.066 points.
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On uneven bars, Kinsella navigated through her routine really well, scoring an impressive 13.766 points.
Fenton, fresh from winning European bars bronze, showed her skills once again by scoring 13.766 as well.
Downie then went for a hugely difficult routine, and it paid off, her performance scoring a huge 14.633 towards the team total.
On beam, Fenton counted a very early fall on her mount skill but recovered well to score 11.9.
Kinsella showed composure by putting in another excellent performance, scoring 13.233 and Downie scored 12.833.
On floor, Evans showed great energy in her entertaining routine to score 13.4.
Martin scored 13.166 and Kinsella completed the final routine for the team, and once again shone, scoring 13.633.
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