Rookie international gymnasts struck TEN medals as they flew the Union Jack at the Polish Senior Sports Acrobatics Championships - at a price.

The Uckfield club athletes rose to the occasion in Warsaw in just their second representative appearance Matt Bennett, 20, Holly Freeman, 13, Alison Novis, 20, and Becci Healey, 11, performed their heroics in the pairs.

The trip cost them £600 each. They also had to take three £80 leotards each and Matt had to fork out even more for special leggings.

Coach Debbie Livings said: "The expense came out of their own pockets because they aren't in any national squad. If they were they'd automatically be funded. It's Catch 22 because you need the international experience to get into a squad.

"It just shows their dedication that they were willing to dig deep and the results they pulled off was a huge step towards them getting squad places. They beat a lot of top gymnasts, including gymnasts who are already in the squads.

"They are going in the right direction but have to make sacrifices. It's not easy because they have certainly not got silver spoons in their mouths.

"Perhaps they might get some support to enable them to enter more internationals."

Livings is delighted with the quartet's performances in eastern Europe.

She said: "I'm proud of their efforts, particularly as it was only their second international.

"The level of competition was very high and there were so many countries involved.

"They were up against competitors from the Ukraine, Belarus, the Czech Republic, France, South Africa and, of course, Poland.

"It was tough, being away from home and facing such high standards."

Bennett and Freeman competed as a mixed pair.

They combined to gain silver medals in the balance routine after qualifying second.

The duo were edged into fourth place after qualifying second for the tempo routine.

But their combined routine, plus accumulated scores, which also included their qualifying display, earned them bronze medals to go with the ones they earned on their international debut in Belgium in April.

In the women's pairs, Novis and Healey gained bronze medals in the balance, tempo and combined routines.

The foursome are now saving for their next international in Switzerland in October.

They would also like to enter the British Tournament. Livings said: " Hopefully they might get a bit of backing for them."