Money demanded by shady character after last gymnast used beam (7)
I believe the answer is:
transom
'beam' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'money demanded by shady character' is the wordplay.
'money demanded' becomes 'ransom'.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'shady character' becomes 't' (I am not sure about the 'shady' bit.).
'ransom' after 't' is 'TRANSOM'.
'after last gymnast used' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for transom that I've seen before include "Horizontal bar across window" , "Beam over window" , "bolstering member" , "Horizontal bar across door for matrons" , "Lintel" .)