FAREHAM gymnast Vanessa Hobbs is virtually guaranteed a ticket to Athens after Britain's first two Olympic Trials.

In the absence of Beth Tweddle, the European silver medallist on asymmetric bars, the Dynamo School of Gymnastics star stormed ahead of her British teammates to win the opening trial at Lilleshall.

That was followed by another sound performance in the Great Britain versus Russia match in Liverpool.

Unsettled by a nasty injury to fellow Briton Amy Dodsley in training the previous day, Hobbs struggled for form in her floor exercise but still managed to take second place with 35.175.

Hobbs made three apparatus finals as Britain ran the victorious Russians close in the team match, 146.00 to 142.275.

In the second day of competition she took bronze on floor and vault behind Anna Pavlova and Elena Zamalodchikova and narrowly missing bronze on beam by .05 - the equivalent of a tiny wobble.

"With the highest start value on beam, she is capable of taking the British title in this discipline," said her coach Debbie Hampton.

Hobbs' Dynamo clubmates are also keeping the pressure on in their preparations for next week's British Championships in Guildford.

At the Southern Region Elite Championships, 17-year-old Katie Seabrook took the senior title, followed by Laura Smith.

Kerri Upton, a 14-year-old member of the national espoire squad, proved her ranking, opening with a double back salto with full twist, then two and a half twists backwards immediately connected to a straight front salto.

On asymmetric bars, she produced a world class routine with two release and catch elements with a full twisting double back to finish.

Upton won the title ahead of Rebecca Nolan and Charlotte Barry.

"This is an exciting time for Vanessa and the club," said Hampton.

"Dynamo's new state-of-the-art facilities are opening in September on the Hamble Sports College site and will enhance the quality of training needed to reach the top.

"The partnership between the school and club has always been strong, but this will improve opportunities for our gifted and talented gymnasts to combine education and high performance training and reach their full potential."