Aberdare duo strike gold at British Championships

Aberdare duo Mia Bernardo and Emily James struck gold at the Aerobic British Championships in Guildford over the weekend.

The talented Welsh pair, back competing across what were two action-packed days at Surrey Sports Park, were part of a five-strong group who wowed in the senior group competition, winning with a score of 18.894.

Along with Mia (Phoenix Dance & Gymnastics) and Emily (Bulmershe/Phoenix), the fantastic group also included Niamh Keane (Bulmershe) and Basingstoke pair Keleigh-Anne Blakey and Elizabeth Marais.

It was also perfect preparation for later this month when the quintet will be taking on Europe’s best at the Aerobic European Championships. That event is being staged in Pesaro, Italy, from Sept 17^th to 19^th.

In what is their first year in the senior ranks, 17-year-old Emily, who trains between Bulmershe in Reading and Phoenix in Aberdare and Mia, 18, from Phoenix, will become the first Welsh aerobic gymnasts to go to a European Championships since former senior women’s British champion Kayleigh Silver eight years ago.

Meanwhile it was also another memorable weekend in Surrey for Niamh Keane, who bagged gold in the senior individual women’s event to successfully retain her crown and make it a hat-trick of individual British titles – following on her triumphs in 2018 and 2019.

The 2020 event was cancelled due to Covid-19.

Some 189 gymnasts competed over the course of the two days last weekend in age groups ranging from 9-10 years all the way up to senior – and there was also success for the Aberdare based Phoenix club in some of the other categories.

There was silver for Foundation Trio (9-10yrs) Ffion Llewellyn, Lila Harris and Olivia Lacey with a score of 15.400, while NAC Trio (10-11yrs) Nia Owens, Niamh Reynolds and Seren Thomas took home gold with a score of 15.350.

This year’s Aerobic Welsh Championships will be taking place over the weekend of November 6th/7th.