FOR one brief moment Craig Heap saw his name in lights in first place on the scoreboard on the final round of the men's individual gymnastics - but unfortunately for Heap and his new found fans it wasn't to last for long.

The big guns of the eventual winner and Heap's England team-mate Kanukai - known as Kadge - Jackson and Canada's favourite Alexander Jeltkov were still to have their say.

In the end the Burnley lad, who picked up gold in the team event on Friday evening, was to finish fifth - but he was number one in the eyes of the G-Mex crowd.

The 29-year-old shouted at the camera, he got the crowd going, he punched the air in delight and it will be a shame if he does quit gynnastics as he has now got the acknowledgement 20 years of hard work deserves.

In Heap's own words he 'went for broke' falling on his opening apparatus, the rings, when dismounting and so starting off with just a 7.950, leaving him in 17th out of 24th place.

"I realised that if I was going to push for a medal I was going to have to make my routine more difficult," said the England captain.

"This is probably going to be my last championships so I wanted to make it one to remember and get the crowd going and keep them entertained.

"So I wanted to be the first to do a triple back somersault on my dismount from the rings.

"In fact, instead, I was the first to fall on my bum!"

Undeterred, the lad, who was Britain's only male gymnast at the Sydney Olympics finishing 32nd, went for it again on the vault, where he again got the crowd clapping and cheering and he scored a 9.025 to move into 11th place.

Third was the parallel bars where, after blowing kisses to the spectators, he chalked up an excellent 9.125.

It was a good show considering he admitted: "It was a new routine and I got a bit lost midway through so I just made it up as I went along!"

By this time Jackson and Jeltkov were going head to head for the gold medal but Heap was fast becoming the one to watch to keep the 5,000 fans buzzing.

He was fantasic on the high bar, an event where he will be going for an individual medal later tonight.

And the score of 8.900 was slightly disappointing as his effort looked to deserve at least a nine - but still he was up to fifth.

On the floor, it was 8.925 before the dreaded pommel - the piece he fell off in the team event. Luckily it liked him this time and his score was an 8.700 which catapulted him into top spot for a few glorious minutes.

But the top four had near faultless performances on their final apparatus to leave Heap empty handed medal-wise but, along with golden Jackson, the most popular man in the stadium.

"I kept encouraging the crowd as I thought if they focus on me, it will take a bit of the pressure of Kadge.

"The women's event on Saturday seemed subdued so I wanted to make sure everybody was buzzing, I wanted it to be special.

"And anyway I have been sharing a room with Kadge all week and he has been snoring like mad so I said only a gold medal would save me from throttling him. He sounds like a blocked vacuum cleaner on a good day!

"It was fantastic for him though. He has had a few injuries, thought about joining the circus, and he is only 24.

"I am 29 now, I can't train with these young lads twice a week. There will never be another chance for me to do anything like this again - compete in the Commonwealth Games in the North West of England - so I had to make sure I took in every minute of it.

"It's looking very likely that I'm going to retire. The Olympics were my time and I got a personal best there. All credit to Kadge, it's his time now."

Heap still has the chance to make it two gold medals when he competes in the individual apparatus event on the high bar tonight at 6.50pm.

"I have more chance than yesterday of winning a gold, a one in eight chance, so I will just be giving it my all. It would be a fantastic finish for me, the last event in the gymastics. It would be so special."

Then Heap says he will be going to a proper bar - the one with a pint of lager waiting!

CRAIG Heap is still thinking over his gymnastics future and does think he may stay competing if he can get sponsorship. Smith and Nephew gave him £11,000 two years ago which kept him going through Sydney Olympics and the Commonwealth Games. If anyone can help call 01254 298002.