SOUTH Essex Gymnastics Club are jumping for joy after being crowned senior men’s British club team champions.

The Basildon-based club took the title despite Olympian Brinn Bevan falling ill on the eve of the event.

And coach Scott Hann was thrilled to see his team pick up the title for the first time since 2014.

“We won this five years in a row before but this was the most pleasing win so far and I’m really proud and happy with how everyone performed,” said Hann.

“In 2015 we were there competing but it was when Brinn broke his leg so we didn’t complete the event that year.

“Since then it hadn’t really fitted into what we were doing training wise but this year it worked out fine and I decided we would really go for it.

“Unfortunately, Brinn was taken really ill the night before the competition got underway and we were up against it at times but everyone did so well for us to win.

“And with everything we had to go through I think this was our best win yet.”

South Essex’s team featured double Olympic champion Max Whitlock - who will be competing at the European Championships in Glasgow next month - and was captained by Jamaican international Reiss Beckford.

Jay Thompson, Tommy Nicolaou and Hayden Skinner also impressed in the five man team, in what proved to be a very close contest.

“We weren’t actually winning until the last couple of events and it was a tough competition with a lot of good performances from all of the clubs,” said Hann.

“The top three score in each event you do and we only had three gymnasts in some of them so there was no room for error at all.

“But they all smashed it with their routines for us to get the win and it was really special.

“It’s always nice when we compete together as a club and getting the win as well made it even more memorable.”

South Essex Gymnastics Club - which is based at Gloucester Park - finished on top of the standings with 239.080 points with the City of Birmingham second on 238.320 points.

Pegasus took third with 236.030 points.