CRICKLADE gymnast Laura Halford has jetted out to Budapest to kick-off her 2015 campaign.

The 18-year-old will be competing at the Gracia Cup today and goes into the tournament as the number one gymnast in the UK after her Commonwealth Games success last year.

Halford is hoping to improve on her world ranking in 2015 and will be performing new routines in Hungary as she sets her sights on the Olympic Games in 2016.

“The Gracia Cup in Budapest will be my first competition of the year, so I am definitely not expecting perfection,” Halford told the Welsh Gymnastics website.

“I want to perform confidently and complete my routines successfully.

“My main goal for this year is to improve on my world ranking (44th) from last year. I also hope to retain my British and Welsh titles and remain the top-ranked senior gymnast in the country.

“I am really excited for the upcoming season because I can't wait to show off my new routines.

“My clubs and ribbon routines this year are very different to anything I’ve performed before.

“I’ve also increased the difficulty of my routines, so they are much more challenging, but I am enjoying working on them very much.

“Heading into this year, my Commonwealth experience has definitely provided me with more confidence because I know I am able to produce results under high pressure in larger competitions.”