BASILDON based Max Whitlock qualified in first place for the pommel final at the European Gymnastics Championships in Szczecin.

The reigning Olympic champion posted a score of 15.033 as he looks to regain the crown he lost last year to Ireland's Rhys McClenaghan, who is absent through injury.

Great Britain's men qualified for nine finals in total with Whitlock's South Essex club-mate Brinn Bevan qualifying third on pommel and also comfortably making the all-around final.

He will be joined by newly crowned British all-around champion James Hall, who also made the high bar final, and Birmingham's Joe Fraser, while Courtney Tulloch qualified for rings and vault.

Reigning champion Dom Cunningham qualified for the floor final but his participation is in doubt after he fell during the vault and suffered a right knee injury which is being assessed.