42nd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Rotterdam, 16-24 October.

17/11/10 - Great Britain Women's Team comfortably negotiated their way into Wednesdays Team Final at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam.

Needing a top 8 finish to make the Final after the two long days of Qualification rounds, GBR ended in 5th place scoring 224.921. The Team was made up of Beth Tweddle, Rebecca Downie, Hannah Whelan, Jenni Pinches, Nicole Hibbert and Imogen Cairns - who came into the line up after her sensational double Gold at the Commonwealth Games.

As this is the first step on the qualifications road to London 2012 (the top 24 Teams qualify from this, into next year Worlds in Tokyo), the Team look very well placed just 2 years out from the Games.

In the pursuit for Individual Finals places, Beth Tweddle unfortunately came short in her Floor routine so won’t be in the Final to defend her World title, however she recovered quickly to put in a great Bars routine (15.600) and will take her pace in next Saturdays Final in the discipline she won in 2006. Imogen Cairns (14.195) also qualified for the Vault Final on the same day.

Hannah Whelan (55.499) and Nicole Hibbert (54.566) both made the top 24 over all apparatus and so make the All Around Final on Friday.

The Men’s Qualification begin on Monday 17th, again over 2 days.

Top 8 WAG Team standings after qualification-

1 RUS 234.521
2 CHN 233.778
3 USA 233.643
4 ROU 228.495
5 GBR 224.921
6 AUS 224.785
7 ITA 219.179
8 JPN 218.895