A clutch routine on bars let Monica Rosu squeeze past fellow Romanian Alexandra Eremia to take the all-round at the Top Gym competition in Charleroi, Belgium, held October 19-20. Rosu's evening had not got off to a good start when she fell from her first apparatus, beam, after a series of ff-full-twisting back tuck. If the 15-year-old was rattled by the fall, it didn't show. Powering through the rest of her programme with calm confidence, Rosu was particularly impressive on vault with a high double-twisting Yurchenko and in her tumbling (tucked full-in; whip to triple twist; 2 1/2 twist; double pike). Eremia jumped ahead of the field after a great beam set that included a front aerial-ff-whip and a Rulfova as well as an ultra-stylish mount of an original side straddle planche. Hers was the only 10 SV of the competition. With a lead of 0,855 over Rosu after three rotations, Eremia looked like the clear winner until she lost momentum on a front giant and jumped off the bars..

The USA's Marcia Newby took the bronze after coming to grief on a ff-layout combination on beam but showed good leaps and choreography everywhere. Coached by Jim Walker at Excalibur, she swung bars well with a high Tkachev, Jaeger and a nailed Arabian double front dismount. The second USA competitor, Susan Jackson, struggled on beam, where she nailed a ff to Arabian, but fell on a front tuck and only showed a simple layout dismount after missing a foot on the beam. On floor, she put her hand down on her piked full-in opener and skidded to her seat after her third rumbling run. Her high 1 1/2 Yurchenko received the highest vault score of the evening (9,550 average). Similar to club mate Verona van de Leur in her deadpan demeanour, the Netherlands' Mayra Kroonen went four for four but gave up too much ground on bars (9,3 SV) to be able to break into the medals. On beam, she tumbled a combination of ff-layout-one armed ff.

Organised by the Gymnos Club of Charleroi, this junior international has traditionally been a coming out party for many future stars like Lilia Podkopayeva, Ludivine Furnon, Claudia Presacan, Alexandra Marinescu and Maria Olaru. First organised in 1992, it has always attracted a strong field, this year Russia and Ukraine cancelled at short notice. While some of the competitors - like 2002 European Junior Championships medallists Eremia and Rosu - are already seasoned veterans at the age of 15, for some gymnasts this is their first big test. For 12-year-old Lauren Beck from Scottland, this year's edition was the first international competition of her life. She finished top of the three Scottish gymnasts. Also making her debut at this competition was Jordanian gymnast Yasmine Kheir, who is coached by former Romanian Camelia Mindricel. The delegation was truly in royal hands - lead by Princess Rahma bint El Hasan, who also serves as the president of Jordan's national federation.

nora

pictures appear courtesy of gymfan.de