THE countdown to the World Championships are in full flow for York canoe star Tom Quinn.

The Bishopthorpe-based Lower Wharfe Canoe Club paddler will head to Deep Creek in Maryland in September aiming to win his first senior world medal.

Nottingham-Trent University student Quinn won a bronze medal in the C1 event at the World Under-23 Championships in Australia.

Earlier this month, the business economics student won silver with Lower Wharfe team-mate Ryan Westley at the European U23 Championships in Macedonia.

The duo pipped Russia to finish as runners-up to France.

Quinn was then fourth in the individual event, while Westley finished fifth.

"It was interesting," said Quinn. "Macedonia don't usually hold international races, so it was a steep learning curve for them, almost as much as us.

"We expected to get a medal because we had a strong team out and we'd been paddling well."

Westley added another silver medal to his haul, narrowly missing out on first place to France in the C2 category with Ryan Franklin.

Following the European competiton, Quinn headed to Maryland to familiarise himself with the World Championship course at Deep Creek.

Next month he faces two World Cup meets - the first at La Seu d'Urgell in Spain before a trip to Augsburg in Germany.

Quinn competed at his first World Cup meet earlier this year at the Lee Valley London Olympics course.

He won gold in his team event and came 29th in the individual competition.