Defending pommel horse champion Louis Smith topped qualification in the discipline ©Getty Images

Defending champion Louis Smith of Britain produced a sparkling routine to finish at the summit of the pommel horse qualification standings at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Bern.

The London 2012 silver medallist and World Championships runner-up safely progressed through to the final with a score of 15.833, comfortably ahead of nearest challenger Harutyun Merdinyan of Armenia, who managed 15.491.

Merdinyan finished behind Smith last year and is likely to be the Briton’s closest competition during the final.

Robert Seligman of Croatia claimed third sport with a total of 15.366.

Reigning world champion Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece topped the rankings in the rings discipline as expected as his routine was awarded 15.700.

İbrahim Çolak, bronze medallist on the apparatus at the inaugural European Games in Baku last year, was second on 15.666.

Denis Abliazin of Russia, world champion in 2014, was given the same score but the Turkish gymnast pipped him by virtue of having a higher execution difficulty.

Britain were the dominant nation on the tricky high bar as Kristian Thomas edged team-mate Nile Wilson to top spot thanks to a slightly higher execution score as both ended with 15.033.

Turkey’s Umit Samiloglu qualified in third having achieved 14.900.

Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev finished in first place on the all-around qualification leaderboard
Ukraine's Oleg Verniaiev finished in first place on the all-around qualification leaderboard ©Getty Images

World Championships silver medallist Oleg Verniaiev of the Ukraine leads the way on the parallel bars with 16.066, the exact same total he managed at the event in Glasgow last year.

Marius Berbecar of Romania is second on 15.766, while David Belyavskiy of Russia occupies third with 15.733.

Verniaiev, the 22-year-old from Donetsk, also produced the best floor routine with 15.366.

Abliazin was able to secure first place in one of the available disciplines, topping the leaderboard in the vault with 15.466 points.

Compatriot Nikita Nagornyy got the closest to his total, amassing 15.249, with Armenian Artur Davtyan third on 15.183.

Two British athletes sit well-placed on the all-around standings, which are led by Verniaiev on a combined 90.948 ahead of Wilson, second with 88.890.

Daniel Purvis’ 87.625 was enough for third and his country will be confident of earning a medal during the final.

In the team competition, Russia are the team to beat having scored 222.726 to leave Britain trailing by 0.206.

The hosts gave the home crowd something to cheer with 220.529.