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24 September 2014

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Team England coach, Paul Hall

G'day from Melbourne

By Paul Hall, Huntingdon Olympic Gymnastics Club
What's it like taking part in the Commonwealth Games? What do they really get up to in the Athletes' Village? Have the Brits got a shot at Gold? Hunts gymnastics coach Paul Hall is in Melbourne with our local hopefuls, and is blogging about it...

Part Eight: Wednesday 22nd March - Melbourne

30 degrees, unbroken sunshine, competition over, off to the beach - tired but happy.听 Great competition last night but too many 4th places.听 Like any sport we too suffer from the 'if' factor.听 If Luke had just landed his vault, or Ross had kept his arm straight, or Ryan had stayed in the floor the medals would have been there.听 But, as Whitney says, you get 'one moment in time' and much as we would all love one more, you have to grab the opportunity.听 Very proud of Louis who did, and all the other guys who competed out of their skin and represented their country in such an exemplary manner.听

Louis Smith

Team Bronze, two in the top 10 all around, representation in six finals and an individual gold on pommel horse.听 A good result.

Huntingdon Gym can be proud of its athletes - two Commonwealth medallists, a Scottish boy in the top 10 and a young lady in amongst the 8 best vaulters in the Commonwealth. We have youth and motivation and I'm developing a taste for Korma.听 See you in Delhi 2010!

Thanks to all back home for all your support.

Paul Hall
Team England Gymnastics

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Part Seven: Monday 20th March - Commonwealth Games Village - the morning after

Louis Smith is the Commonwealth Champion, taking gold on the pommel horse!

What a great night for English gymnastics.听 After spending a nerve-wracking hour in the warm-up gym, Louis marched onto the podium to an audience of 12,000 mostly Aussies all yelling for the local boy to win.听 We had just seen Ryan Bradley finish well on floor and Imogen Cairns from Bristol go one better to win Gold on vault, so Louis had a hard act to follow.听 Big moment and all eyes were on pommel horse for the next 30 seconds as Louis swung the most amazing routine of his life.

With a start score of 6.3 and an average 5 tenths deduction he was untouchable. Sellathurai followed with a faultless, but slightly less difficult performance and moved into silver medal position by just over .15.听 Shavahn Church rounded off the evening with Silver on asymmetric bars, bringing the medal haul to five.听 Emma White from Peterborough competed well for Scotland, finishing sixth on vault, and now we wait for Luke on vault this evening...

Luke Folwell

Got to bed in the small hours, tired, relieved, happy.听 Well done Huntingdon Gym Club!!

Paul Hall
Team England

Part Six: Saturday 18th March - Commonwealth Games Village, 7am

The girls done good!听 Against all odds and with world medallist Beth Tweddle out injured, the England ladies' gymnastics squad won the silver medal with a stunning performance.听 All four finished in the top ten and the team separated Australia and Canada on the podium.听 Scotland finished 5th and Huntingdon's own Emma White was a star to qualify for the all-round in 15th place.听 She also produced two great vaults to make the apparatus final on Monday - fantastic result.听 The mood in the village is jubilant and it's great to see all the athletes returning with the spoils of victory.听 Today is the men's and women's all-round competition, then I'm off to catch some Miriam Mkebe and Evelyn Glennie at the Festival in the Park.听 How's the weather over there?

Enjoy the Games!

Paul Hall
Team England

Part Five: Friday 17th March - Over the Moon!

The morning after the night before and what a night it was!听 The England Men's Gymnastics Team can be proud of their performance in a packed Rod Laver Arena, taking a bronze medal with 23 clean exercises from 24 - I could not have asked for more.听 Canada and Australia were untouchable but Malaysia or Scotland could have taken our medal had it not been for our great team spirit and consistency over six pieces.听 Luke Folwell is over the moon, qualifying for vault final on Tuesday in 7th place, and Louis Smith did his job on Pommel Horse, qualifying with the second highest score going into Mondays final. We have finals on every piece of apparatus and 3 gymnasts in Saturdays Top 24 event - Well Done to All!

Scotland competed well to finish 4th and Daniel Keatings fought off pain to finish in the Top 10 in the Commonwealth.听 Huntingdon Gymnastics Club can be very proud of its gymnasts, and we'll all be there cheering for Emma White tonight as she goes in the Women's Competition at 7pm.听 Luke and Louis are tucked up in bed and we train again at 5.

Enjoy the Games!

Paul Hall
Team England

Part Four: Wednesday 15th March - Let the show begin!

Hi all from sunny Melbourne.听 Well, the excitement is building as everybody gets their glad rags on for tonight's opening ceremony.听 Just seen the Scots looking great in purple shirts and flowing kilts having a photocall by the flags.听 The city is buzzing and the pedestrian crossings are working overtime with the influx of extra spectators. Tonight's show looks like being awesome - don't miss it.

The boys had a final training session today before tomorrow's event and will settle down by a big screen to watch tonight's festivities.听 Louis trained well in the gym and Luke is looking stronger by the day. Daniel Keatings had an MRI scan yesterday and has been given the all clear to try six pieces tomorrow so we keep our fingers crossed.听 Emma White did her dress rehearsal yesterday and looked like she enjoyed being in the big arena. At last the long preparation is over and the event is imminent - bring it on!

Hi to all in in the arctic wastes of Cambridgeshire...

Paul

Part Three: Monday 13th March - G'day possums听

All's well here in Melbourne and the boys had podium training in the main arena tonight.听 The England team enjoyed the atmosphere and prepared well. The Canadians and Australians looked good and we have a fight on our hands with the Malaysians and Scots.听 Daniel Keatings from Huntingdon Gym Club is competing for Scotland and is nursing a sore back but hopes to compete on 4 pieces.听 Emma White also goes for Scotland and is looking real good in training.听 Here are some bits from the England boys:

Louis Smith: Hello Cambridgeshire.听 Everything sounds nice and cold back home - wish I could say the same for here.听 Training is going good and the team spirit is very good. We had a great day at the beach yesterday, had a swim and relaxed before training.听 Topped up my tan, ha ha.听 Hope everyone's ok and if my friends read this then send me a text.听 Byeeee.

Luke Folwell:听 Hello to everyone back home.听 Training is great and everyone's working hard to put finishing touches on their routines. We've got podium training today and I'm really excited to get in the main gym! Hope you're all ok and enjoying the cold weather ha ha.听 It's lovely out here and not got sunburnt yet though.听

Take Care

Luke

Part Two: Sunday morning in Melbourne

Yesterday the guys took a day off, with a late breakfast and an hour's condition and sauna in the Athlete's Village gym.听 Prince Edward paid a visit and Louis and Luke showed a few handstands.听 What else can you do on a day off in 30 degree heat? Yes, off to St Kilda Beach to turn a few heads with athletic bodies still very white!听 A great time was had with the gymnasts swimming in the Tasman Sea and soaking up the beach atmosphere.听

This morning we trained for 2 hours at the Rod Laver Arena.听 Luke did conditioning and a little pommel horse, while Louis swung around the bar and honed some elements from his routines.听 We're back this afternoon to start the climb-up for Thursday's big event.听 Tomorrow is the dress rehearsal in the main arena and then the real thing in just 4 days.听 Biggest problem at the moment is avoiding the 24-hour food hall with wall-to-wall ice cream and pizza in amongst the health food from across the world.

More Later,

Paul Hall
England Gymnastics

Part One: Saturday 11th March - Commonwealth Games Village

Well, after having flown across the world from Cambridge to Melbourne, Team England are now established in a very comfortable village in the suburbs of the city.听 The estate feels a little like Ramsey St with a perimeter fence that keeps us all very secure.听

The Gymnastics Team has acclimatised well and have spent 10 days adapting to the hot weather (some days at 30 plus degrees) and the intense preparation of competition.听

We are a team of 5 gymnasts; 2 from Birmingham, 1 from Sutton, and our very own Louis Smith and Luke Folwell from Huntingdon Gymnastics Club.听 Luke and Louis are both well and in good spirits.听 They have been training twice daily at a local centre before moving to the Rod Laver Arena, which has been cleared of Australian Open Tennis Courts and rebuilt as a 15,000 seater Gymnastics auditorium.

We now have just 4 days to go before the opening ceremony, and then the Team event begins on Thursday 16th in front of a sell-out crowd.听 Luke is hoping to do well on vault and Louis is going all out for a pommel horse final. The main rivals come from Australia and Canada but a new points system means that no one is certain of what the result may be.听 We have a half day today and may just have to check out the beach before returning to some shopping in Melbourne Centre.听
How's the weather over there?

Enjoy the Games!

Paul Hall
England Gymnastics

Keep it here for Paul's next instalment...

last updated: 23/03/06

Have Your Say

Send Luke and Louis your best wishes and we'll print them right here and send them out to the boys...

Hulk Hogan
Luke, brother, let me tell you something dude. You took your vitamins and said your prayers brother, and dude you nearly made it brother.

sarah day
YOUR AMAZING

Charlotte
Hi Louis! I've seen you at the olympic gym a few times and you are really great. You did very well in the Melbourne Olympics! Look out for me on monday when my little sister does the taster sesions! xx Love Charlotte xx

Kiri Drage
Hiya, probably may not remember me Luke, but just want to say well done!! hope all goes well for you!! Kiri x

Lauren
Hey Luke, I just would like to tell you of how proud i am of you, and even though you didn't get bronze in your last comp, just be proud that you came this far! And i would just like to say that your an amazing person and im so glad that i met you...Luv Lauren

Andy, Deborah, Rachel & Sarah
Well done Luke its been great watching you perform. We're all so proud of you. 4th best in the Commonwealth, what a star. See you soon Love from us all

ang ian louise and claire
Hi Luke, Many congratulations to you, we are very proud of everything you have achieved, you have proved you are up there with the best and your performances were outstanding, I was so nervous watching you, but you did yourself proud. Hope you enjoy what's left of your stay in OZ and we are looking forward to seeing the BRONZE MEDAL. love Ang & Ian.xx hey mate well you should havw e seen Mum she was on the end of the chair when you came on, but I must admit so was I! Iam so proud of you, I can't believe what you have achieved. You have done so well and Helen told me you was a bit sad with coming 4th, but I think that is brill,can't wait to see you when you get back, I'm going to come up for a night out and get you a beer!!!!!all my love your big cuz lou.xxxxx A Huge congratulations to the whole gymnastic team England. The Aldridge family.

elaine petch
well done to england boys you all done so good, A big thanks to paul Hall all my love to louis miss you loads mum xxxxxxxxxxx

Lauren
hey boys i just wanna say well done. i use to be in B squad and its great to see how well you are doing. lauren x

John, Lucy and Lo
Well done Luke! We know 4th is not what you really wanted but its's fantastic, 4th in the whole Commonwealth how good is that! We're really proud knew that extra hot weather training in Florida a few years ago would pay off pity you couldn't keep up! Only joking! Enjoy your last few days of Aussie hospitality and sunshine (& perhaps some of the amber nectar!) Love John, Lu and Lo x

Paul's Wife Kim !!
So proud of you all ! Well done guys ! On emoional roller coaster here at home looking forward to congratulating you all in person .

Helen & Steve Folwell
Well done Louis what a fantastic performance you looked in total control so cool and a mature performance everyone is taking about all the achievements here in the local area and in other parts of the country. LUKE you did your best in the vault we are proud a little sad for you,but 4th was fantastic, we know you are dissapointed but you made the final take the positives away and enjoy your last couple of days in Aus with the rest of the Team. Paul well done to you fantastic result for you personally 4 Huntingdon gymnasts in finals and medals too.Hope the whole men and women team can now relax and party a little and have some fun now the job is done. Excellent results congratulations to all. We look forward to welcoming you home. Helen&Steve (lukes mum and dad) xx

Lika Rasch
Congrats from an Aussie!! Louis it was good 2 c a non-aussie win- even I am sick of hearing our 'advance australia fair'. Ace performance

joanne smith
Hey Louis I rekon ur HOT! [edited comment]

Teresa - in Melbourne too!
Well done to Imogen! Fantastic result and hopefuly it makes up for a bronze medal in the all around which should have been yours too!

Sophie Legg
Luke well done and the rest! Absolute awesomeness! Good Luck for the Vault DuDe!! I will get up and watch it at 8! Best not be tanning too much! hehe! xX

St Peters School
Well done, Luke. We're all delighted with your success so far - everyone wishes you the best of luck tomorrow. Congratulations to the whole team.

Lisa Shacklock
Hi Luke,its Lisa from round the corner! just to say well done you,greatly deserved. I have to say to listen to your mum on the phone after your vault was chokin! so very very proud. And your dads face when he came to get Lee for golf was a picture.All the best good look foryou all. Lisa and Lee X

Steve,Helen,Russell&Adam Folwell
We are so proud of you Luke,and all the team, many congratulations,well done to you all. From all the Folwell and Garside/Aldridge family and many friends send best wishes and good luck for Tuesday. Stay focussed believe in yourself and GO FOR IT !!Good luck to the rest of team can you bring home yet more medals? Love and Best wishes Mum and Dad Russell& Susan, Adam & Nicola xx

Sarah Folwell
Well done Luke everyone is so proud of you! You were amazing! Good luck for tuesday! Can't wait till we see you! Lots of love Sarah x

Kelly Barney
Hi im 1 of Sarah Folwells best friends (lukes cousin) Just want to say well done! Sarah and her family are very proud! Sarah talks about you at school! well done lads keep it up xxxxxxxx

John and Lucy Goodacre
Well done Champ we knew you could do it, fantastic. Enjoy then head down for Tuesday and then celebrate! Not bad for a Folwell - only joking. Look forward to seeing you soon. Love and best wishes John and Lu x

Hannah(5) and Jacob(2) HOGC
Hannah and Jacob send love to Luke, Paul, and the gang. We saw you all doing your stuff - well done boys,(high 5's all round). Bring home lots of metal with ribbon. Best wishes - throw another shrimp on the barby! Pete & Jo, Hannah and Jacob Johnson.

Ben Howells
Congrat's everyone. Against some adverse hurldes to clear, a great result. We're all proud and await more fantastic results to top it all off. Stay focused Louis and prove to them you're the Pommel King. Like wise Dan and Luke - do your best. Well done paul! You're all the talk of the town. Keep it up.

neil.zoe.lauren and little ad
well done guys.we are so pround of you. watched it live on tv,loved the interview, you are both natruals.looking forward to the ap finals good luck again love neil zoe lo and little ad

Ross Fairley
Get in there Luke and the rest of the lads. Watched it all on the net, very impressed mate. congratulations, see you at easter

Andy Lee and Natasha Markland
Hey man! we watched you this morning, you did awesome so proud of you mate! *well done*!!!! i tried to get as many people up as i could to watch you only ended up being me, tash and ross lol. 8 o clock too!!! so early for us students!! i recorded you on my phone lol so you can re watch yourself when you get back. cant believe it, its amazing well done again man well proud!!

phil carter
do us proud lads

Karen Taylor (Fromeside coach)
Good luck to all of you and enjoy every minute of it! : )

Jacob Taylor
I am 7 and Adam trains me at Huntingdon. I hope you both do really well. Good luck

Shirley
WOW!!Somebody from HUNTINGDON in an international event! Don't know much about gymnastics but will be following the teams' progress keenly. Good luck and look forward to seeing headline news in the Hunts Post next week !!

Sutton School of Gymnastics
All the best Ross - knock dead.

Gary Steele director of sport Wood Green High Scho
Regards to Mike Weinstock(team manager gymnastics) Thanks for the Photo's of Mike and Scott(mens Hockey team) Good Luck!

Barry McGrath
Paul, can you please pass on my very best wishes to Stevie Frew. I am stuck in the far East of Russia with 2m of snow and will not get down to Melbourne to see the gymnastics. I wish all the GB gymnasts the very best for a great competition...and don't worry the sun is not that strong!

josh murphy
good luck to ryan bradly and kristian do ya best lads wil be backin ya all the way GOOD LUCK

ad chicky and nic pea
luke, make sure you get a suntan you pasty white boi!! but it needs to be after winning a medal on the vaulting horse!! And remember your feet are for landing on not your bottom! Give irish matt a big hug and wish him all the best! love you man good luck from your big bro and his wife xxxx

Teresa - in Melbourne too!
Good luck for tonight guys. It's great to here how you are getting on. Have confidence in your abilities and all that practice. Go for gold!

neil zoe lauren and adam
hi guys good to here things are going well.nice too see both pauls and your messages updating us on how things are going. please pass our best to dan and emma.good luck to you all love and best wishes neil.zoe.lauren and little ad

Ray Pollard (Reiss Beckfords uncle)
Good luck to you both, you both deserve to win a medal (or 2 perhaps)

The Lindops!!
Best of luck on Thursday - we will be rooting for you but less of the comments about how nice the weather is! PS Jonny sends one of his special smells

IAN RAINBIRD( Former MA Coach)
Well done Boys on your games debuts,all the hard work will payoff,Best of luck,still a fan,Cheers.IAN.

Erica MacKenzie
Louis - if you come back brown, I'll know you haven't been training enough! Luke, is it a linnet? Good luck to both of you and bring home SOME medals! We all miss you here at the gym!

reiss beckford (segc)
have a great comp

Gymnova (UK)
Good luck to the team from all at Gymnova