The Senior women have taken centre stage at the European Championships, as 24 teams from across Europe entered The NIA for the start of the competition.

The Russians took over where their Junior counterparts left off, showing excellent form and artistry across the four pieces.  Despite a couple of falls, they set the standard for the opening day with a total of 168.325.

The British team received a great reception from the home crowd in the third subdivision, joined by the Romanians and the French, all with high expectations.

The Romanians shone with their technique and precision, qualifying in second place with a score of 166.800.

A solid start on Floor for the British girls helped steady the nerves and from here they continued to impress - 165.300 and a third place Qualification for Saturday's Team final.

The other countries to contest the Team medals on Sat, 1 May are France (4th place in the Qualifications, 162.800; Italy, 5th- 161.525, Ukraine, 6th - 161.150, Netherlands, 7th- 158.675 and Switzerland, 8th - 156.750.

The GB girls also won five places in the Individual Apparatus Finals on Sunday, 2 May 2010.

Beth Tweddle confidently led the way with routines packed with difficulty and is the top qualifier on A. Bars (15.950, highest score in the Women’s Championships so far!) and on Floor (14.850).

On Sunday she will be joined by Becky Downie on A. Bars (14.575; 6th in the Qualifications), and by Niamh Rippin on Floor  (13.650, also in sixth).

Nicole Hibbert, the only British gymnast to compete on all four pieces, makes the Vault Final with a score of 13.800, 7th place.

Ana Porgras (Romania) qualifies in first on Beam (14.950) and Tatiana Nabieva (Russia) was the highest scorer on Vault (14.150) .

For full reports and results see www.british-gymnastics.org