Paddle power is steering Ryedale canoeist Paula Floyd to success.

The Pickering trout farmer has just returned from Augsburg, in Munich, in Germany, where she finished fourth in the White Water Freestyle European Canoeing Championships.

"I am absolutely delighted," said the 25-year-old, who only took up the sport 18 months ago.

The European Championships signalled the end of the competitive season for Floyd, who has a top 20 world ranking.

"I am absolutely amazed how well it has gone and how quickly I got in the British team," said the former Lady Lumley's School student.

She drove to Germany with sponsors Piranha, who make canoes, - an overland journey which took 29 hours.

But once on the water in her 18-kilo plastic canoe she put her freestyle skills to the test and was delighted to finish fourth behind a Finn and two Germans.

Freestyle canoeing on rapidly-moving white water is an exhilarating sport which requires skills to do spins, rolls and vertical moves on a stretch of water.

Although canoe racing against the clock is an Olympic sport, freestyle is not yet recognised by the Olympic movement.

"That is our next aim," said Floyd, "If we can get on the Olympic calendar we should be able to get more money into the sport".

She began competing just to give husband Austen company at event in Hurley on the River Thames and just six months later she was in the British Freestyle team competing in the world championships where, although she came up against some professional canoeists, finished 20th.

She trains at the purpose-built Teesside White Water Barrage, on the Derwent at Howsham, near Malton and on the sea off Scarborough.

Action woman Floyd, a Hull University graduate, also plays tennis and hockey for Ryedale Ladies, cricket for West Heslerton Ladies, badminton for Ryedale and Yedingham. To relax she plays table tennis and goes riding.

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