THE Northern European Championships 2011, in Uppsala, Sweden on November 12 and 13, brought a fantastic set of performances from Welsh gymnasts who swept the medal boards, with four golds, four silvers and four bronze.

The Welsh men's artistic team made up of Clinton Purnell, Grant Gardiner, Harry Owen, Matthew Hennessey and Robert Sansbury placed 1st in the men's artistic team event, a place higher than the previous championships.

Adding to the team gold was Clinton Purnell of Barry YMCA who took individual 1st in the vault with a faultless performance. He also completed his medal collection with still rings silver and a bronze in the high bar.

Not one to be outdone, teammate Grant Gardiner, of Woking Gymnastic Club, took bronze on the parallel bars. The team and individual performances seen at the Northern Europeans marks a significant step up in men's gymnastics in Wales which has been overshadowed by the women's artistic performances of late.

Those performances were bolstered by Lizzie Beddoe, Georgina Hockenhull, Mollie Moore, Jessica Hogg and Barry girl Kiera Brennan who took silver in the women's artistic team event.

Two more golds followed, courtesy of Kiera Brennan and Lizzie Beddoe who took 1st in the uneven bars and the floor respectively. Brennan added to her gold with a bronze on the uneven bars.

Jess Hogg scored a 13.550 to take second and silver in the individual vault.

Tracy Skirton, Welsh women's artistic national coach, thought the championships capped off the season nicely.

"This was a really good opportunity for our junior gymnasts to gain some competitive experience," she said.

"It also shows the depth in our squad."