GB teams named for test event

British Gymnastics has confirmed the team who will compete at the London Prepares test event at the North Greenwich arena next week.

The focus will be on the men’s artistic team and the rhythmic group, both of whom will compete at the test event for places at London 2012, with the men needing to finish in the top four of the eight teams to get a full quota of places for 2012 and the rhythmic group needing to set a benchmark score.

The men’s artistic team has been confirmed as Olympic bronze medallist Louis Smith, two-time British all-around champion Daniel Purvis, former European pommel horse champion Daniel Keatings, alongside Kristian Thomas, Ruslan Panteyleymonov and Max Whitlock, with Sam Hunter as the reserve.

Rhythmic gymnast Francesca Jones has already booked her place for London 2012 as an individual at the 2011 World Championships and will compete at the test event in order to aid her preparation. The rhythmic group – Georgina Cassar, Jade Faulkner, Francesca Fox, Lynne Hutchison, Louisa Pouli, Rachel Smith and reserve Annabelle Bartlett – have been set a benchmark score of 45.223 at the test event in order for a nomination to be submitted to the British Olympic Association to accept a host country place.

The British women’s artistic team have already qualified for a full berth for 2012 and therefore will not be in action at the test event, while in trampoline, world No 1 Kat Driscoll will compete despite having already a secured place for Britain at the games.