JESSICA BROUGH made an outstanding return to the gymnastic stage at the recent British Championships held in the Guildford Spectrum Sports Centre.

The 15-year-old, who has just returned after an injury-riddled three years, made a stunning comeback to the arena when she claimed a silver medal in the asymmetric bars competition.

Jessica was up against the best juniors in the country, including European bars' champion Reanne Pugh.

And it was all so close in the final as Jessica initially led the competition until Pugh's near-faultless display snatched gold from under her nose.

The youngster, who is a member of the Erith-based Europa Gymnastics Club, has now set her sights on re-establishing herself as one of the country's top up-and-coming stars and her seventh place finish in the four- disciplined competition was one step towards that remarkable goal.

Len Arnold, her coach, was delighted with her progress after an injury-plagued past and added she exceeded all expectations.

He said: "I have a lot of admiration for Jessica. The last few years have not been easy for her and where most people would have called it a day.

"Her outstanding determination to perform at the highest level is a shinning example to anybody who finds themselves injured and unable to perform at their best.

"She had a great boost halfway though the competition having performed on the vault and bars her favourite piece of apparatus where she was, amazingly, in first place.

"We knew she could not maintain this position because her heel injury had prevented her from performing high-level skills on the beam and the floor, and although she had one fall on the beam this didn't detract from her dream performance."

Arnold added: "This is a great springboard for Jessica to start her long term dream of competing in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and with a bit of luck she stands a very good chance."

Meanwhile, a Europa Gymnastics Club squad of 26 is preparing for the forthcoming English Gymnastic Championships in Wiltshire, in September, by jetting off to Russia.

The club is visiting the Vladimir School of Gymnstics, which has been responsible for producing four Olympians in the past, including: seven-times gold medalist Nicholai Andrianov.

Europa hope the Olympian influence will act as an inspiration to all their aspiring gymnasts at their two-week training camp.