Bath’s rhythmic gymnast Lynne Hutchison goes into this year’s British championships in Stoke-on-Trent with a great chance of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in July.

Lynne, on the right, is going solo for this year’s games in Glasgow
After two years competing with the Great Britain group, including at London 2012, Hutchison has returned to individual competition in a bid to make her second Commonwealth appearance.
The former junior British champion will be competing against two other Olympians, Francesca Jones and teammate Jade Faulkner on 17th May, as well as the three overall medallists from 2013, Laura Halford, Stefani Sherlock and Jael Gore.
Despite her comeback being delayed by injury she showed her good form with a hoop gold medal at the recent Open Apparatus championships.
With the senior category at this year’s British championships probably the strongest ever the 19-year-old, despite her excellent record in the competition, is hoping just to perform well and enhance her Glasgow ambitions.
She said: “Previously at the British I have usually aimed for overall medals, however this year it’s different as I have only been training these routines for a few months.
“That is because of injuries I’ve had since the Olympic Games which have caused me major problems, both mentally and physically. Also the transition from group to individual is harder than one may think.
“So under these circumstances I am just going to aim for the four clean routines I know I am capable of and to make the Commonwealth Games team.”
With the Games in Scotland it would be the second major competition in Great Britain Hutchison has featured in, and she thinks that it would be a bit like having home advantage once more.
“Despite GB being divided into the home nations, there should be a lot of support for all the teams as it isn’t far to travel to support,” she said.
“We will also have the advantage of not having far to travel, compared to say the Australian team, so there will be no time difference to adjust to and we’ll be used to the climate.”
Usually British rhythmic gymnasts are happy just to be in the major championships, but with the sport’s powerhouses not part of the Commonwealth, Glasgow represents a realistic medal opportunity and Hutchison and England won the team bronze in 2010.
With that in mind Welsh Gymnastics have heavily financially backed their athletes, allowing them the rare luxury of full-time training.
The English girls have not been so lucky and have been fighting their corner with little support.
But Hutchison still thinks her team could push their rivals for a medal. She said: “They have had the benefits of sports support services and training together as a team, which I think will really benefit them. A strong team bond is important because the first day of competition at the Commonwealths is all about that.
“It is possible we could push for a medal anyway, we have some very strong gymnasts who will really boost the England scores.
“Also under the pressure of the competition it will be a test of who can keep in control mentally and perform how they prepared to.”
After the injury problems and lack of funding it would seem safe to assume that Hutchison will retire from the sport after a Commonwealth swansong, but she is not so sure.
“I haven’t decided yet, I am thinking about going to university but that doesn’t necessarily mean I cannot train alongside studying. It will depend on what my body tells me,” she said.