World Cup bronze is boost for Guiseley's Debbie (From Wharfedale Observer)

World Cup bronze is boost for Guiseley's Debbie

9:06pm Wednesday 20th June 2012 in Other Sport

her favourite event by winning a bronze medal in the final World Cup meeting of the year.

The 31-year-old was in the women’s quad which finished third in Munich last weekend and the performance raised hopes for Flood of a third Olympic medal at the London games which start next month.

This year has been a tough one for the qualified prison officer.

She has had to overcome illness and injury to fight her way back into the Great Britain team and Sunday’s bronze medal-winning performance was a reward for the hard work she has put in.

Flood won the world title in 2010 in the women’s quad as well as two Olympic silvers in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

She had competed in the women’s eight at the previous World Cup in Lucerne, but back in her top event, she made her presence felt.

Flood, Beth Rodford, Fran Houghton and Melanie Wilson almost snatched silver from Germany in a dramatic final. Ukraine took their third World Cup gold of the year and are clearly the outstanding crew.

“It’s only our second race together and we are still learning,” said Flood “But today can give this combination some confidence. It was Beth Rodford’s first race at stroke and whilst we were dropped a little off the start we showed our maturity by getting back into it.”