Canoeing: Feisty Florence bags a bronze in Bratislava

Edinburgh canoeist David Florence experienced mixed fortunes at the European Slalom Championships in Bratislava yesterday, salvaging a bronze medal in the C2 doubles after trailing home ninth in the C1 Canadian final.

The Olympic silver medallist was second-quickest in the C1 heats and semis but the Forth Canoe Club ace could not get it right in the final.

The former Roseburn and Stewart's Meville pupil finished well down the field after a missed gate cost him 50 seconds in penalties.

It was a different story in the C2 event as Florence and Rich Hounslow scraped into the final in tenth spot before a clean run in 103.38 seconds saw them pip Etienne Stott and Aberdeen's Tim Baillie for bronze. The British quartet had also taken third place in Saturday's C2 team competition.

"I paddled really well until the last gate in the C1 and was gutted to blow it, so to have turned it around was something I am really proud of," said Florence.