Sport : Other Sports

BRITISH QUINTET QUALIFY FIRST

24th May 2012, 08:06pm

Daniel Purvis: Short on sleep

Daniel Purvis: Short on sleep

Great Britain's men's team enjoyed a superb day as they qualified in top spot for the team final at the European Championships in Montpellier.

The quintet of Daniel Purvis, Max Whitlock, Ruslan Panteyleymonov, Louis Smith and Kristian Thomas scored a total of 265.718 points, the top score of the day.

The competition got off to a rocky start as Purvis landed his vault and fell off the podium on to a judge, although the 2011 all-around bronze medallist revealed illness had restricted him to just three hours' sleep on Wednesday night.

The fall seemed to spur Purvis on with a superb all-around display, his score of 86.764 the highest of the event, while Smith posted his highest score in any major competition when he was awarded 15.900 in the pommel, in which he is Olympic bronze-medallist.

Purvis said: "I had a really bad night's sleep and was quite ill so I didn't even know if I'd compete.

"On vault I had to battle to keep myself focused, I landed and ended up on the floor, I didn't know what had happened but actually it woke me up a bit.

"My team-mates, coaches and the physio were great and stuck by me and that filled me with confidence and drive to carry on and I'm really happy to have battled back and contributed to the team results - now I need rest and an ice-cream."

Smith said: "I'm quite happy and relieved with my routine but the focus is on the team, it's nice to complete it for them.

"Dan was the hero for us, he looked like a ghost this morning and he's just smashed out his routines, he's an unbelievable guy.

"For the pommel final I feel good and am in good shape so let's see what happens."

Other Sports Videos

    Giro d'Italia - Stage Eighteen

    Giro d'Italia - Stage Eighteen

    23-May-2013

    Highlights from the eighteen stage of the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

    British fans are the best

    British fans are the best

    23-May-2013

    Master of Ceremonies Michael Buffer says that British boxing fans are the best in the world and will be in for a treat, when Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler face off on Saturday night.

    Giro D'Italia - Stage 18

    Giro D'Italia - Stage 18

    23-May-2013

    Italy's Vincenzo Nibali stregthened his grip on the lead in the Giro D'Italia, with a convincing victory in the mountain time-trial.

    SFL to vote on SPL merger

    SFL to vote on SPL merger

    23-May-2013

    The SFL will vote on plans to reconstruct the leagues in Scotland next month. The club's will meet on June 10th to decide whether the Scottish Football League should be wound up and merged with the SPL.

    Sky Bet

    Facebook Favourites