NORTH Yorkshire skier Jake Doyle bagged a bronze medal at the Delancey British Children’s Championships in Tignes - and the Topcliffe teenager couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Having finished fifth in the under-16s slalom at the French ski resort, 15-year-old Doyle, who also missed out on the medals last year, went into the super 'G' determined to set the record straight and take his place on the podium.

The race had to be postponed due to poor weather, but Doyle was not unsettled come the resumption as he stopped the clock in a time of 57.10 seconds.

His result placed him just behind Owen Vinter and Ewan Robertson in the standings, and while he insisted there was still plenty of room for improvement, he said: “I’m really happy with that performance.

"Finally the effort that I have put in over the season has paid off and got me a result.

“The course came at me so fast because I wasn’t expecting the speed at the top, but I dealt with it.

“It was difficult to remember things I had seen in inspection but I just decided to focus on a few key bits.

“I think I could have been cleaner in places, but I was mostly happy overall.

“I’m really happy to be on the podium. I didn’t get a podium last year so it’s a good one.”

Doyle, a Cundall Manor School pupil, was also eyeing a podium place in his favourite giant slalom discipline, but, with a bronze already in his catsuit, he reckoned the pressure would be off for the remainder of the championships.

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