Bonora emerges as favourite for national crown

The 2010 Australian Championships double as the selection trials for both the 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2010 FIG World Championships – the first qualifying event for the London 2012 Olympics – and Australia’s stars will not only be vying for the national title but the opportunity to wear the green and gold.
 
Beijing Olympian Georgia Bonora (VIC), who won the all around title at the Victorian Championships starts as slight favourite for the national crown ahead of Olympic teammate Shona Morgan (VIC), who recently accepted a scholarship to the exclusive Stanford University.
 
Fellow Beijing Olympian Ashleigh Brennan (VIC) who took 2009 off to concentrate on finishing her Year 12 VCE studies, makes her much-anticipated return to the national scene.
 
Also in the fight for a spot on the Delhi team is Queenslander Larrissa Miller who made the uneven bars final at last year’s world championships on her international debut.
 
Victorians Georgia Wheeler and Emma Dennis, and Mary-Anne Monckton from New South Wales will also be in the mix.
 
Two notable absentees from the trials are injured West Australian pair Emily Little (strained elbow ligaments) and dual world championships medallist Lauren Mitchell (adductor strain), who have both submitted an injury petition to the selectors.
 
Australian women’s head coach Peggy Liddick will select five gymnasts for Delhi, with another three to meet the team over in Rotterdam, the 2010 world championships commencing just eight days after the conclusion of the gymnastics competition at the Commonwealth Games.
 
“We’re going out to win the Commonwealth Games and I’m going to put my best team out there,” said Liddick.
 
“With both Lauren and Emily not competing at the trials it’s not ideal, however I know the team works around them, and I know if they are physically able, they will be there in September.
 
“If I deem that their potential is better than the other girls who are vying for the spot, then that is the selection committee’s prerogative.
 
“Lauren is a world class gymnast and on paper she is ranked No 3 in the world at this point in time. However Lauren hasn’t competed since last year’s world championships (October 2009), but I look back at history and she had an interrupted preparation in early 2009 but she still came out to win two silver medals at the world championships.
 
“This tells me a lot about her character, her daily training environment and her professionalism.”
 
Liddick said she was eagerly anticipating the performances from both the senior and emerging gymnasts at this year’s national championships.
 
“In the seniors, Georgia Bonora is looking really solid, she’s a good all-arounder. She’s looking really strong for the national all-around title.
 
“In the juniors, Angela Donald and Georgia Rose-Brown from Melbourne, both have been looking good.
 
“Emma Jane Nedov, who just got back from her first international assignment in Germany and won balance beam over there, she could be a sleeper.
 
“It’s all really exciting because these juniors are all eligible for the 2012 Olympics and will make their impact next year.”
 
Also in action this week at Perth’s Loftus Centre are Australia’s best rhythmic gymnasts led by Beijing Olympian Naazmi Johnston (NSW).
 
Three positions on the Australian team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games are up for grabs at the 2010 Australian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, with Perth’s own Janine Murray along with Morgan Lewis (VIC) and Enid Sung (NSW) expected to be amongst the medals.
 
2010 Australian Championships - women’s gymnastics
July 5 to 11, Challenge Stadium, Perth
Thursday 8 July, 7pm – junior and senior team competition
Friday 9 July, 7pm – junior and senior all around
Sunday 11 July, 1pm – junior and senior apparatus final
 
2010 Australian Championships - rhythmic gymnastics
July 7 to 11, Loftus Centre, Perth
Friday, 9 July, 6pm – team and all around
Sunday, 11 July, 1:30pm – apparatus final