BRADFORD on Avon paddler Hannah Brown has signed off her season in style after collecting a bronze medal at the Canoe Sprint World Championships in the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Brown, who is already a double sprint wildwater world champion, teamed up with Angela Hannah to clinch third place in the women’s K2 200m final on the final day of the championships and the 27-year-old says it is a surreal feeling.

“I’m happy in hindsight. It seems a bit surreal but we had a hard start to the competition with our 500m race because we had a bad day,” she said.

“We didn’t progress how we wanted to in that competition so we used the days after that to improve for the 200m final, before coming away with a bronze medal.

“We are over the moon. It’s been a rollercoaster throughout the competition emotionally and there was a lot of pressure because it is the end of the season.

“We weren’t paddling as well as we could have but it all came together at the end so we are happy.”

Brown now has a four-week break until she gets back on the water to take part in the wildwater World Championships in Pau, France.

During the break, she will have the chance to reflect on what has been an difficult year, which has seen her overcome a shoulder injury in addition to starting a new discipline.

“The medal is massively encouraging. It is quite exciting because we have had a lot of learning to do and you learn from your bad races,” added Brown.

“Especially the overall year with injury and everything else, it is encouraging from a physical point of view.

“In the 500m there is a lot more to consider as well as the endurance aspect and there is plenty to work on, so it will be good to go into the winter with some clear goals.

“Working with a partner has been great. We throw ideas off of each other while we are in the boat, and off the water, she is a great person and a good teammate to have.”