GYMNAST Brinn Bevan has been selected in the Great Britain squad for the forthcoming European Games.

The Thundersley based 17-year-old won the all around final at the English Championships before also putting in some steady displays at the British Championships earlier this year.

And Bevan has now been rewarded with his first ever senior international call-up, much to the delight of his coach at South Essex Gymnastics Club, Scott Hann.

“It’s fantastic news for Brinn and it’s a great reward for the grit and determination he’s showed in recovering from the back injury he had,” said Hann.

“This is the first ever European Games and I think it’s going to be massive.

“It’s a multi sport event like the Commonwealth Games and the aim is for it to be similar to the Asian Games and the Pacific Games.

“It looks really good and is going to be a great experience for Brinn.”

The European Games will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan and get underway in June.

Britain have opted to send a team of up and coming gymnasts which means Bevan’s club mate, Max Whitlock, will not be making the trip.

But Hann hopes Bevan will be able to make the most of the opportunity.

“First and foremost Brinn will be thinking of doing well for the team and I would think they would be aiming for a top six finish or maybe slightly higher,” said Hann.

“It’s going to be a good standard with Russia, Ukraine and Germany sending full strength teams but it will be great for Brinn.

“He will be looking to put together good routines and it’s certainly a real chance for these young gymnasts who are going.

“If any of them do really well then they could well be in the selectors’ thoughts for the World Championships later on in the year.”

Nile Wilson and Frank Baines will travel to Baku as Great Britain’s other representatives.

But Hann believes another South Essex Gymnastics Club member, Jay Thompson, would also have been pushing for selection had it not been for the dislocated elbow he suffered last year.

“It would’ve been lovely for Jay to be picked as well but it was never really a realistic target for him because of the injury,” said Hann.

“Jay is still two or three months ahead of progress with his arm and our aim is to keep him nice and steady as we strive to push on.

“But I’m sure he would certainly have been in the mix if he hadn’t got injured.”