TOM OWENS and Julie Cheung made successful international tumbling debuts in the Belgian Open.

The Basingstoke gymnasts travelled to Herentals with three other British squad members and coach Alan Lavelle from the Andover Salto club.

The teenagers competed in the junior event against gymnasts from Belgium and across Europe, both having been set personal performance targets for the event.

Both met and surpassed their targets as 16-year-old Owens qualified for the finals in fourth place and Cheung, one year older, eighth.

In the final rounds, Owens, who has recently had an ankle operation, landed double straight somersaults to claim a bronze medal.

The highlight of Cheung's competition was performing a twisting double salto which gave her overall fifth place.

Lavelle, their coach, was delighted with the results and the pair are next in action at the British championships on May 4 and 5, which is the first of three selection competitions to choose the team for this year's European championships in Russia.