TOM OWENS and Julie Cheung completed a double success as they scooped Southern titles at the Sport Acrobatic regional championships in Southampton.

The two 16-year-olds from Basingstoke were both easy winners in the 15-16 age group in international tumbling.

Weeks earlier, the pair competed in the 19th British tournament in Nottingham and delighted their coach by achieving top-eight national status in their respective tumbling groups.

In the 15 and over age group, Cheung competed against much more experienced gymnasts. Her overall result was seventh place.

Owens was the youngest male to make the finals, competing against national senior squad members, where he achieved sixth place overall.

Both were invited to national squad testing at the national gymnastics centre at Lilleshall to be tested against the world class performance tables.

Cheung, who has been Basingstoke's highest achiever in women's artistic gymnastics, made the decision to concentrate on tumbling at elite level in June this year and has been training hard for this event.

Owens made the change from men's artistic gymnastics in April and both have spent the last few months concentrating on changing techniques and preparing for national level competition.

Both train at Andover Gymnastics Club where their coach, Alan Lavelle, is absolutely delighted with their dedication and progress.

He said: "They have both achieved all the targets set for them. The most we could hope for at this, their first major competition, was a top eight place which they have both achieved."

Both are looking forward to the British age group championships in May when they stand an excellent chance of gaining medals at national level.

They will then both be eligible for selection for the European tumbling championships in Russia in October 2002, Cheung competing in the 17 and over group and Owens in the 14-17 age group.