Figure skating: Arrowsmith on target

Britain's Jenna Arrowsmith finished 13th in her qualifying group in the European Championships in Paris yesterday, good enough to win her a place in Friday's short programme.

Arrowsmith,16, was skating in Group A, won by Maria Butyrskaya of Russia. The Ukrainian, Elena Liashenko, led the second group of skaters.

Surya Bonaly, France's five times European champion who is competing in her first major competition since suffering an Achilles injury doing acrobatics in May, struggled to qualify in sixth place in Group B.

Bonaly won a place in the French team at the last minute after appealing against her federation's decision to drop her on the grounds that she was not fit.

"I think I can be better when it is more serious," Bonaly said. "I was a bit scared and it was stupid to be scared for this because it was just a qualification. But it was difficult for me to be in good shape for this one. Right now my confidence is only about 60 per cent."

She completed only three triples in her routine, two toe loops and a salchow.