JON Schofield will use the ‘bitter disappointment’ of losing his European crown to spur him on to world glory.
Schofield and Liam Heath finished in fourth place in the K1 200m at the Canoe Sprint European Championships in Portugal to end a run of three successive titles.
It was also the first time the pair had failed to get on to the podium at a major event since coming together in 2010 - including two medals at the World Championships and a memorable bronze at the London Olympics last year.
But the former Clitheroe Royal Grammar School pupil insists they can use the setback to inspire them – and said it could even work to their advantage.
“We were both bitterly disappointed but I suppose our run had to come to an end at some stage,” said the 28-year-old.
“All of our rivals have been off the podium at one stage or another in the last few years and this time it just happened to be our turn.
“I suppose, to a certain extent, the pressure is off us now because we have continually got the results and that was a pressure of its own.”
The pair have enjoyed incredible success since coming together for the 2010 season.
They won gold medals at Szeged and Duisburg in the World Cup, were crowned European champions for the first time and won bronze at the World Championships.
They successfully defended their European title in 2011 and upgraded their bronze for a silver in the World Championships.
And they made it a hat-trick of European titles last year before winning a bronze medal at Eton-Dorney at London 2012.
But there wasn’t to be a fourth gold as Russian pair Yury Postrygay and Alexander Dyachenko clinched the European title to add to their Olympic crown.
They will be now be the pair to beat at the Canoe Sprint European Championships in Germany at the end of August.
“We did little wrong in the race itself but because it is a sprint you can get run out of it and that is what happened,” added Schofield.
“But we will use the defeat to spur us on and we’ll be looking to comeback stronger for the World Championships. We are being realistic because we know everyone will be peaking for the worlds as it is the biggest event of the year.
“It will be tough but we will definitely be going there to try and win the gold medal.”
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