OLYMPIC slalom canoeing hopeful Tom Quinn has started the 2011 season in the medals.

Bishopthorpe-based Quinn, a member of Tadcaster’s Lower Wharfe Canoe Club, is in prime form ahead of the European Under-23s Championships in Bosnia in July.

The youngster is hoping to use that as a stepping stone en route to a place in the Great Britain squad for next year’s Olympic Games in London.

At an inter-university slalom event in Nottingham, Quinn took three golds, in his favoured C1 class, the C2 and the team event, where three boats ran the course at the same time.

In the first premier division race in Bala, North Wales, Quinn took gold and bronze medal places in both the C1 and C2 sections.

Quinn has teamed up with George Tatchell, from Hereford, in the C2 this year.

Tatchell used to partner Lower Wharfe member Ryan Westley, but had to find a new partner as he is now an U23 and Westley is still a junior.

At the second premier race in Bala, the pair won to secure a wild card entry to race at a senior GB selection event at the 2012 Olympics venue.

They raced against the best in GB over three days and the duo took fourth overall in C1 and C2 to be installed as first reserves for the GB squad at this year’s World Cup and World Championships.

Meanwhile, at an U23 selection event in Nottingham, Quinn secured his place in the team for the European Championships by taking first and third places.

In tandem with Tatchell, he also won the C2 to finish second overall in the three-race series and earn selection for that event in Bosnia.