Ashfield athletes receive tributes

The sisters receive funding from the County Council’s Shining and Rising Stars schemes, which supports elite senior and junior sportspeople from the county.

Becky (22) beat Olympic Champion, Aliya Mustafina to win Gold in the Uneven Bars event in Sofia - making her only the second British woman, after Beth Tweddle, to win an individual European title.

And there was further medal success for younger sister Elle (15) in the Juniors. Elle won Gold in the Vault and Bronze in the all-round competitions.

Coun Pauline Allan, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Nottinghamshire is known as the sporting county with very good reason.

“It is fantastic to see Becky and Elle following the likes of Rebecca Adlington, Lee Westwood, Ollie Hynd, Carl Froch and Richard Whitehead by taking on and beating the very best in the world.

“To reach the top of any sport requires total dedication, focus and hard work, not to mention the support and of family and coaches.

“I feel extremely proud of their achievements, so I can only imagine how Becky and Elle’s family must feel to see them both do so incredibly well on the international stage.

“I am thrilled that the County Council has played a part in helping them to the top of their sport. I am sure their success will be an inspiration to scores more young people from across our county.”

For further information about getting involved in sport in Nottinghamshire visit the website, www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/sport.