Rebecca Shorten targeting first World Championship podium finish

By Paul Martin, Sportsbeat Rebecca Shorten reckons a laser-focus on the women's four can help her onto the World Championship podium for the first time in Racice later this month. Ad The Belfast rower, 28, returned from the European Championships in Munich with gold as part of the four and silver in the women's eight but the British team have only entered the former into the Czech Republic showpiece, which begins on September 18.

RowingEsme Booth bidding for World gold after European silverAN HOUR AGO Shorten has enjoyed an unbeaten season in the four to date, with two World Cup triumphs sitting alongside her European victory, and now has sights set on finishing in style. «You never know how doubling up [events] will go and this year we just want to go in with one concentration and focus,» she said.

«Since the Europeans, we've been on camp in Vareze and put in a lot of miles and hard intensity, which has been our main focus. »We're going back there for a prep camp before the Worlds to sharpen up a few things, rather than do the long miles, and we’re hoping it pays off." This will be Shorten’s fourth visit to a World Championships but her first as part of a four, with two fifth-placed finishes and a sixth under her belt in the eight.

The British contingent topped the medal table in Munich as they continue to bounce back from last summer's Tokyo disappointment but are aware the challenge that awaits them in Racice will be tougher, with Olympic champions Australia among those to enter the fray. Shorten’s crewmate Rowan McKellar, also looking for her first career medal at the event, added: «You can never be too confident going into it but we can't complain with our results so far.