Goodison glee at World Championships victory

Relief mixed with jubilation characterised Paul Goodison's win at the Laser World Championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia. And emphatically underlining the strength in depth of Britain's Olympic sailing squad was a bronze for the 23-year old Nick Thompson.

Goodison, the reigning Olympic gold medallist, is unbeaten in every international event he has contested since winning in China, but it has taken years to win the world championship. His previous best was a bronze in 2002. He won the European Championship earlier this month and will take this top form to his new home of Weymouth in three weeks' time when Britain stages the first full, international test of the new facility for the 2012 Games.

"It's fantastic, and such a relief," said Goodison, 31 and originally from Rotherham. "Having won all my other events this year, and with the worlds having been the big focus, there was quite a bit of pressure to do the business and I am just so happy that it's all done and dusted. I've got to watch my back, but all credit to Nick. He's had a fantastic week and I'm really pleased for him."

Splitting the British pair was New Zealand's Michael Bullot in a regatta hit one day by Hurricane Bill and the day after it by no wind at all.

In Bulgaria, Ed Wright is second in the Finn European Championship after three days of racing and in Rungsted, Denmark, Pippa Wilson and Saskia Clark are fourth in the 470 World Championships with Penny Clark and Katrina Hughes seventh.