SUFFOLK gymnast Laura Cole won gold to take a national title at the British Gymnastics Challenge Cup Junior Section in Aldershot with an impressive 46.

SUFFOLK gymnast Laura Cole won gold to take a national title at the British Gymnastics Challenge Cup Junior Section in Aldershot with an impressive 46.150 score.

The 15-year-old has been training at Bury St Edmunds Spectrum Gymnastics Club for seven years.

Her hard word and dedication has paid off throughout a successful season.

Norman Mealham the vice chairman and development officer of the club said it was a superb result for the Bury club with Laura taking the national title.

He added: “Gymnastics work hard, they train five or six days a week.

“She recently won the British Club Grade One Championship in the summer, so she is also the British champion in that as well.” He added.

Mr Mealham's daughter, Suzanne, is one of Laura's coaches. Matthew Stone, her other coach, accompanied her in the Challenge Cup.

Laura also collected the gold medal for beam champion as well as silver medals for vault and floor.

She is not a stranger to winning the Challenge Cup in Aldershot. Laura won the competition in the Espoirs age level in 2005.

Her next major competition is the British Championships, which take place next year in June.

Two other Bury St Edmunds Spectrum gymnasts competed at Aldershot. Charlotte Codling, returning to the sport having retired sometime ago, finished in an excellent ninth position and took the bronze medal on the beam. Casey Nichols finished in a creditable 13th position despite carrying a niggling injury.