Gymnast, Leonni Johnson, clinched her first major title in Belgium when she beat almost 50 other competitors.

The 13-year-old Bishop Auckland youngster, a member of the South Durham Gym Club, beat 47 other hopefuls from around Europe to clinch her first gold medal at this level with an excellent performance.

Competing in four disciplines, beam, floor, bar and the vault, her best displays came on the beam and the floor exercises and proud coach, Nicola Preston, was delighted with Johnson's performance.

She said: "In a foreign country using equipment we weren't used to, nobody at the event expected one of our gymnasts to win the whole competition.

"But Leonni just got better and better on each piece and her beam and floor were amazing with easily the highest scores of the day. Her presence on the floor was awesome.

"She's a really beautiful gymnast, and she has very good style and is a great dancer and all that came to the fore. It was the most impressive I have seen her."

A pupil at St Johns Comprehensive School in Bishop Auckland, Johnson won the competition ahead of two Dutch girls who finished in second and third place. Her talents had been recognised before this competition as she is already in the national squad and is on a World Class Potential programme.

Her gold medal achievement capped a great competition for the South Durham club who entered two teams into the event with team one finishing in second place overall.

Preston added: "Our second team finished in a respectable eighth place and the experience had by all was fantastic and will definitely stand them in good stead for the future."

SQUADS, South Durham team one: Leonni Jennison, Amy Fossheim, Hala Alali, Hayley Robson.

South Durham team two: Bethany Heard, Lauren Drinkeld, Katy Usher, Jazmine Spiers.

Reserve: Melissa Carr

If you, or your child, would like to join South Durham Gym Club, call (01388) 811877 for more information.