LOUIS Smith and Kristian Thomas savoured the best results of their individual careers as the British duo took gold at the European Championships in Montpellier yesterday, with Becky Downie also claiming a silver medal on the bars.

Smith took the pommel title and Thomas the floor crown, where he put in a fantastic routine under pressure to score a huge 15.166 points and win his first major individual title.

"It's amazing, I'm absolutely over the moon," he said. "I've never won a floor medal at a major championships but I knew the routine I had was consistent and I was in contention. I was so nervous watching the other scores come in, to win gold is incredible."

Smith had won two Olympic medals on pommel horse but never that elusive major championship gold. He was a class above in the final, dismounting perfectly for 15.800. He said. "I was first up and had to stay composed. It was always a bit hit and miss as to whether I could come back and today for me was a trial for myself. I was so nervous, to win gold makes it all worth it."

Reigning champion Downie knew she had the potential to be amongst the medals and her final performance was exemplary, earning her 15.233 for silver. Competing alongside her was her younger sister Ellie who was fourth and later returned to finish fifth in the women's vault final, with Claudia Fragapane sixth.

On rings, Courtney Tulloch finished eighth.

Today, Thomas will feature in the vault final and the high bar, where he will be joined by Sam Oldham, while Fragapane and Downie will be on bars, and Amy Tinkler and Fragapane on floor.