Oldham, the European junior all-around and high bar champion and Youth Olympic high bar champion, moved up to the senior ranks when he was a travelling reserve for Britain at the 2010 World Championships.

But now he is looking forward to making his mark in senior international competition by taking part in the high bar and parallel bars.

"I have got new routines in both which I will be introducing," Oldham told insidethegames.

"I have had five competitions in the last five weeks and I am feeling pretty confident."

These European Championships will offer numerous members of Britain's team their first big opportunity to try out new routines and technical improvements ahead of London 2012.

The British team is determined to match the successful display it put on in last year's Europeans in Birmingham, where Tweddle won the floor and bars titles, Daniel Keatings and Louis Smith finished first and second on the pommel horse and Daniel Purvis took bronze in the floor exercise, the men and women finished second in their team finals.

But these Championships will allow some routines to be bedded in, with the main focus of the year being on the World Championships in Tokyo, which will act as the first London 2012 qualifying event.

"This event provides us with another significant opportunity to enhance the reputation of British Gymnastics through our outstanding performers," said
British Gymnastics Olympic Performance Director Tim Jones.

"Once again we have been spoiled for choice in who to select, and I have no doubt that the team we have chosen will challenge for honours across the whole breadth of the competition"

Tweddle added: "This years European Championships is all about trying out new skills, some people might see that as a risk but obviously 2011 is the year to try it with the Olympics ahead of us.

" I've always enjoyed competing at the European Championships and have had great success, particularly in the past two years.

"This year's Championships will be a tough challenge with all gymnasts now fine tuning their routines ahead of a huge year so it will be very interesting to see how everyone gets on in Berlin."

A total of 281 gymnasts, 193 coaches and 124 judges will take part in these championships, which will take place in the 7000-seater Max-Schmeling Halle.

Britain's men's team will be: Louis Smith, Dan Purvis, Kristian Thomas, Theo Seager, Sam Hunter, Sam Oldham. The women's team will be: Beth Tweddle, Hannah Whelan, Jenni Pinches, Danusia Francis.

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