05. März 2011  
Holon, Israel  
Rhythmic Gymnastics

Second Grand Prix 2011 - 10th Anniversary in Holon

Evgenia Kanaeva, four times winner

The 10th anniversary of Holon Grand Prix had finished the first day competition and again Evgeniya Kanaeva was the queen of the rhythmic gymnastics world tour here in Israel.  Evgeniya Kanaeva with a quality performance won the all-around, followed by teammate Daria Dmitrieva, the two times silver medallist at the finals.
On Saturday's finals Kanaeva was successfully with hoop, clubs and ribbon. Russian teammate Daria Kondakova won with the ball.
All-around third Aliya Garaeva of Azerbaijan took comfort in two bronze and Anna Alyabyeva with one silver (ball).

Team Russia sent a full team of both seniors and juniors as well as all coaches and Russian delegation chief Irina Viner.
Russia is at this early date on the rhythmic world tour, one level above most of the field. 

Aiya Garaeva (3); Evgenia Kanaeva (1); Daria Dmitrieva (2)
* Reporting from Holon:GYMmedia correspondent Tom THEOBALD (photo & text)

Daria Dmitrieva (RUS), silver with ribbon and ball

Notable again and perhaps typical of the early season rhythmic tour, several top gymnasts didn't show at Holon.
Rival Belarus did not sent Liubov Charkashyna and their best gymnast of 2010 in Melitina Staniouta (recovering from injury) or Alexsandra Narkevich.
Belarus instead sent a young gymnast named Arina Charopa and she was coached by Beijing 2008 silver medalist Inna Zhukova.

Team Ukraine fielded the team of Ganna Rizatdinova, Victoria Mazur and Victoria Shynkarenko. But they were without their best gymnast Alina Maksymenko, who was sent to Schmiden International in Germany this same weekend.

Along with Inna Zhukova several previous stars of Holon Grand Prix have been invited to this 10th edition of the event. There is late word that Alina Kabaeva of Russia (gold at Athens 2004) will make an appearance on Saturday, 5th of March.

* Report & photos: Tom Theobald (USA)
** GRAND PRIX FINALS (March 05)
__________________________________

Evgeniya Kanaeva of Russia was almost perfect in taking three of the four Event Finals here at Holon Grand Prix on Saturday, 5th of March.
Daria Kondakova recovered from just missing the all-around medal to take gold in the ball final.
Surprise of the clubs final was Israel's own Neta Rivkin taking a well deserved bronze medal to the cheers of her hometown fans.

Evgenia Kanaeva, four times
smiling for victories!

* H O O P
1. Evgenia Kanaeva (RUS) - 29.075
2. Daria Kondakova (RUS) - 28.400
3. Aliya Garaeva        (AZE) - 27.800

4. Ulyana Trofimova (UZB) - 27.025
5. Anna Alyabyeva     (KAZ) - 26.400
6. Joana Mitroz          (POL) - 26.200
7. Neta Rivkin             (ISR) - 26.100
8. Elena Meirzon         (ISR) - 25.950

Daria Kondakova, the reigning
world champion with rope
(Moscow 2010) with an excellent
ball performance in Holon.

Olympic and World Championship
invited celebrity guests Inna Zhukova,
Simona Peycheva and
Dinara Gimatova (picture below)

* B A L L  
1. Daria Kondakova (RUS) - 28.750
2. Daria Dmitrieva    (RUS) - 28.500
3. Aliya Garaeva        (AZE) - 28.075

4. Neta Rivkin                 (ISR) - 27.200
5. Ulyana Trofimova     (UZB) - 26.925
6. Anna Alyabyeva          (KAZ) - 26.725
7. Anna Gurbanova        (AZE) - 26.125
8. Crystalleni Trikomiti (CYP) - 25.300

* C L U B S
1. Evgenia Kanaeva   (RUS) - 28.150
2. Anna Alyabyeva      (KAZ) - 27.600
3. Neta Rivkin                (ISR) - 27.500

4. Daria Dmitrieva       (RUS) - 27.250
5. Aliya Garaeva           (AZE)  - 26.750
6. Joana Mitroz             (POL) - 26.500
7. Ulyana Trofimova     (UZB) - 24.300
8. Ganna Rizatdinova  (UKR) - 24.300

* R I B B O N
1. Evgenia Kanaeva   (RUS) - 29.100
2. Daria Dmitrieva      (RUS) - 28.200
3. Ulyana Trofimova  (UZB) - 27.950

4. Anna Alyabyeva       (KAZ) - 27.100
5. Aliya Garaeva          (AZE) - 26.775
6. Neta Rivkin               (ISR) - 26.350
7. Joana Mitroz           (POL) - 26.000
8. Anna Gurbanova    (AZE) - 25.500
  >> Grand Prix Ranking  (- after 2 Events)

...were given special flowers and gifts during the awards ceremony to mark past participants in this 10th anniversary of the Holon Grand Prix.
The evening was finished with stunning gala exhibitions by medalists Daria Dmitrieva, Daria Kondakova and Evgeniya Kanaeva. The packed house at Katzir Sport Hall loved every minute of this year's Holon Grand Prix.
From Holon for GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL: Tom Theobald

The parade of the all-around's best at the first competition day in Holon.....

******************************************************

* All-around qualification (Friday, Mar 04)...
1. Evgeniya Kanaeva        RUS 112.700
2. Daria Dmitrieva            RUS  111.525
3. Aliya Garaeva                 AZE 111.075

4. Daria Kondakova          RUS 109.350
5. Anna Alyabyeva             KAZ 109.075
6. Yana Lukonina              RUS 109.000
7. Neta Rivkin                      ISR 108.200
8. Ulyana Trofimova          UZB 107.800
9. Joanna Mitrosz              POL 106.025
10. Alexandra Merkulova RUS 105.850
   >> Detailed results

        * Individual All-around (B-group)
* Junior competitions

After two apparatus (hoop, ball) in individual all-around leads the young Russian Diana BORISOVA, followed by Shir HILLEL from Israel and Elena BOLOTINA from Byelorussia...
This ranking was also the final results after Saturday's apparatus three and four:
  >> Final detailed results

* Junior groups 
   after  second performance on Saturday morning:

1. Russia              - 25,900 / 25,175   = 51,075
2. Azerbaidshan - 24,600 / 25,050   = 49,650
3. Israel                - 23,850 / 23,900   = 47,750

4. Bulgaria            - 21,750 / 23,075  = 44,825
5. Slovakia            - 20,575 / 20,125  = 40,700
6. Latvia                 - 20,125 / 19,700  = 39,825
* From Holon: Tom Theobald (USA)