Gymnastics: Holyoake tipped as medal chance

Mark Holyoake is being touted as a genuine medal prospect in Melbourne next March after ending the world gymnastics championships' all round competition as the fourth-ranked Commonwealth artistics gymnast.

Holyoake, 22, might yet be promoted to today's world championships final at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena if a higher ranked gymnast withdraws through injury or opts to concentrate on individual apparatus finals.

The Aucklander is first reserve to fill a vacancy after qualifying in 25th place.

Regardless of whether he is promoted or not, Holyoake has exceeded expectations with his six-discipline combined score of 50.887 points.

Brazillian Mosiah Rodrigues claimed last spot with a combined total of 51.187.

Gymnastics New Zealand chief executive Jack Ralston said Holyoake would be nominated for the Commonwealth Games team and expected the New Zealand Olympic Committee to approve his participation.

"We're thrilled with his result and he's a real medal prospect," Ralston said.

Holyoake held his own in a world class field with a strong overall performance highlighted by a 8.875 in the vault.

Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games, he is ranked behind Malaysia's Ng Shu Wai, who qualified ninth for the final by totalling 54.012.

Australian Joshua Jefferis tallied (52.049) to place 17th after qualifying while Great Britain's Ross Brewer was the third best Commonwealth gymnast with 51.424 points earning him 22nd spot.

Holyoake has plenty of scope to make ground up on his rivals before March and will head to the United States next month for a training camp and competition in Texas.

He will also compete in the national trials in January.

Meanwhile, in the women's all round competition, two slips off the beam put paid to Alice Barnett's faint chances of progressing to the all around final.

She still managed an encouraging 31.686 points from her four rotations thanks to a 8.837 vault.

Olivia Jobsis and Sarah Miller, who is hampered by a foot injury, only entered two events.

Jobsis managed 16.025 from the floor and vault while Miller twice lost her footing on the beam before recovering on the uneven bars to post a score of 15.225.

Belinda Castles was the last New Zealander in action, in the final subdivision of the all-around last night.

- NZPA