LAURA Halford admits she was delighted with her start to 2017 after bagging a triple haul of gold medals in her first outing of the year.

The Cricklade competitor claimed gold in the hoop, ribbon and club disciplines at the Rhythmic Open Apparatus Championships in Stoke-on-Trent last weekend - a better than anticipated beginning to the season for the 21 year old.

Initially Halford wanted to use the event to test the new routines she had been working on over the last six months.

“It felt really good and it was a really good start to the year. It was my first time competing in six months since last year and I had four new routines,” said the former Bradon Forest pupil.

“I didn’t have high expectations, I just wanted to go out there and test my new routines, to see where I was and what I needed to work on.

“It went better than I expected, I was a bit nervous beforehand but I am happy with the end result.

“There is obviously lots I can work on. I think I need to be more confident with the routines, obviously I know I can do it but now I am reassured.”

Following her success in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she won bronze for individual ball and all-round plus a team silver for Wales, Halford is keen to make this year count as she eyes a spot at next year’s Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast as well as this May’s European Championships which takes place in Budapest, Hungary.

“It’s really important to make a good start because of the Commonwealth Games next year and also, in May, the European championships,” added Halford.

“I have put myself in a good position for the Europeans I just need to prove that I am able to reproduce the results.

“Then it is just a case of working hard in the gym and being consistent and feeling good in myself because I know I can do it.

“It’s a really big motivation for me because I would love to be able to experience the Commonwealth Games again.

“It’s a really big honour to represent Wales in such a big event and I want to be able to reproduce the success I have had in that.

“This competition is just the first in a long list of preparation for the Commonwealth Games.”