CRICKLADE rhythmic gymnast Laura Halford is heading to the World Championships in confident mood.

The 21-year-old reclaimed her British title earlier this year and is the sole representative for her country in Italy.

As a result, Halford is feeling at home with her routines and she hopes she can translate that into a good showing when she starts the competition today.

“It was a good confidence boost, especially heading into this competition,” she said.

“My training has been going well and I have just been going over my routines in training every day, each apparatus, just to run through them all.

“Since the British Championships, we haven’t really changed my routines at all.”

The Cardiff University student is now training at Llanelli Academy, having left Swindon’s Esprit gym to make it easier for her to train, with the national coach part of the same club.

“I’m so thankful for everything Deb (Hows, Esprit’s head coach) did for me but it was quite difficult when she was Swindon and my other coach was in Cardiff, having to relay information back and forth,” she added.

Halford kicks off her competition in Pesaro this lunchtime, starting with the hoop and ball and already has one eye on next year’s Commonwealth Games in Queensland, where she is hoping to make an impact, having claimed a team silver and two bronze medals in Glasgow three years ago.

“I just want to do clean routines without any major errors,” she said.

“Also, this is the competition where all the main competitors who will be at the Commonwealth Games next year are attending.

“It will be nice to see where I am in comparison and where I could be next year.”