The British Water Ski Team continued their summer of success in putting skiers on the podium, this time at the European Under 21 Championships. For 16 year old Steve Critchley who, even though he has another 5 years in the age category and is already the 2004 European Junior Jump Champion, the European U21 Championships in Fagersta, Sweden became a challenge is see if he could hold the title at the older age category as well. First out in the 12 man final he posted 57.5 metres and sat and watched as his elders could not match or better it. The very last skier on the water, France's Paul Fourastier managed to match Critchley with his last effort to force a jump off. A massive thunder storm then struck the site bringing the event to a close with the skiers, unusually in the sport, sharing the title. Critchley's effort was also good enough to move him in to the silver medal position in the overall competition behind France's Joffrey Malaquin. In her first competition back after two years out of the sport through serious injuries Tanya Niebuhr showed the steady progress of her recuperation by picking up the silver medal in the women's jump event and the bronze in the overall category. Austrian Louisa Zettinig beat Niebuhr to the gold medal in the jump with a leap of 50.0 metres whilst Frances' Marion Mathieu and Belgium Kate Adriaensen took the gold and silver respectively in the overall. For good measure the British Under 21 Team also took the silver medal in the team competition behind France. The success of water skiing at world level will be bought into focus during the next two weekends as the world's best skiers arrive in the UK for the Princes ProAm, London International Night Jump and British round of the World Cup. The World Cup takes place at Thorpe Lakes, Surrey and will mark the last competitive tournament of water skiing legend Andy Mapple. Britain's 6 time World Champion has been at the very pinnacle of the sport for 23 years and only a fortnight ago took his 163rd title at the MasterCraft Pro. As always Mapple will have to prove his mettle against the very best of his peers if he wants to end an incredible career on the water in his familiar 1st place. report by John Wood