HEREFORD canoeist Claire Spencer has continued her promising start to the season by returning from international duty with the Junior and Under-23 British Kayak team in Slovakia with a bronze medal.

Claire and her brother Allen were both picked to compete against representatives of 12 other countries at the international regatta in Piestany, held over three days on the River Vah, with Claire taking part in singles events and Allen teaming up with John Boyton for the K2 competitions.

On the first day, Claire, who is just completing a Sports B Tech course at Hereford Sixth Form College, overcame dreadful weather conditions to win her heat and qualify for the final of the 1,000 metres.

A strong head-wind was still blowing on the Saturday but Claire, nevertheless, qualified through the semi-finals for the 500 metres final before paddling a very hard race to gain third place in the 1,000 metres final.

On the Sunday, she was unable to stay with the faster pace in the 500 metres final, finishing in eighth place before winding up her weekend with a sixth place finish in the 3km event.

Allen also did well to qualify for both finals and, in the face of some tough competition, returned with a fifth and an eighth place finish.

The British team finished fifth in the medals table.