Canoeing: So close for Florence in Barcelona

Capital canoeist David Florence narrowly missed out on his third World Cup win in three weeks after taking silver in the C1 slalom final at La Seu d’Urgell near Barcelona.

The 2008 Olympic runner-up claimed two titles at the Cardiff World Cup earlier this month, and the Forth Canoe Club paddler looked silky smooth in the heats and semis at the 1992 Olympic venue.

Florence then clocked a flawless 98.69 secsonds in the final, only to be pipped by just 0.04sec by Spain’s Jordi Domenjo with French legend Tony Estanguet back in third.

“I feel pretty awesome!” smiled 29-year-old Florence. “I put in some solid runs and built through the competition, so when I saw my final time I knew it was a good one. It’s a great finish to three weeks on the road.”

Despite posting the second-quickest time in the semis, clipped gates and time penalties cost Florence and Rich Hounslow a spot in yesterday’s C2 doubles final, in which Aberdeen’s Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott finished sixth.