Kimberley Woods reached her fourth final of the weekend as she led British representation in the kayak cross at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3 in Prague.
Woods reached the women’s final but had to settle for fourth, while Jonny Dickson was the best-placed man as he made the semi-finals.
Rugby Canoe Club paddler Woods had been in imperious form across the day but was pushed wide on an early gate in the final and could not make up the ground.
It marked the end of a busy weekend for the 29-year-old, who competed in four finals across three days.
“Today’s racing, I was coming off runs yesterday so felt pretty tired but was really raring to go, and to go out there and just be myself.” Woods said.
“I am bit gutted not to come away with a medal, but I am really happy to have made four finals, after the first two World Cups that I had.
“I can take a bit of confidence from that. Coming back from the Games, it is the first year of the cycle, it is really tough mentally and physically to tune back in again, and I think a lot of girls are feeling like that.
“I am not the only one, but I am really happy to have been myself more this weekend.”
All the British paddlers made it through the time trial, with Woods posting the fifth-best time of the day in the women’s event, and Sam Leaver’s 15th place was the best of the British men.
In the heats, Lois Leaver kept on Jessica Fox’s tail to make it safely through while Woods led from the front to advance.
Nikita Setchell finished third in her heat, and initially it looked like she would advance after a fault to another paddler, but Setchell was later ranked as lower (RAL) after an infringement
Joe Clarke finished his heat run in first but was given a fault early on to end his chances of qualifying.
Jonny Dickson and Sam Leaver safely qualified from the same heat, but only Dickson made it through to the last eight.
In the women’s quarter-finals, Lois Leaver picked up a fault to miss out, but Woods was again unstoppable.
Bar being overtaken late on in her semi-final, Woods sailed through to the final four but Dickson could not keep his strong form going as he had too much space to make up after an early setback.
In the women’s showpiece, Woods again got the best start but was pushed wide on a gate and had to paddle back to complete it.
With her advantage lost, Woods’ medal chances faded as home favourite Tereza Kneblova triumphed.
She added: “I was a bit gutted not to show the pace that I know I can do in the time trials, but then I am happy to have made it through the rounds.
“There were a couple of toughies, but not as tough as I have had in the previous two World Cups, which I was mentally really thankful for.
“That semi-final with Tereza Kneblova and Jess (Fox) was really tough, and I just wanted to make sure I put myself in a good position, and I did going into the last up.
“I was really happy to be in the final, I felt really confident, and just one little thing, being stuck underneath someone’s boat felt like I hit a brick wall going into gate three.
“Then the race was over for me there, I was praying someone was going to fault on the way down, but I actually executed everything really well on my own, trying to chase and catch u,p but it was too much of a time loss.”