I'M delighted that minority sports have been given a TV airing in the absence of over-exposed football.

On Sunday I caught Tyldesley's Olympic silver medallist Paul Ratcliffe paddling in the Slalom Canoe World Championships in Augsburg, Germany, on BBC 2.

It wasn't the luckiest day he's had.

Paul, who has been among the world's best since 1997, finished fourth in the 1st round of the K1 event.

He set off on a thrilling second run which was marred when he incurred a two second penalty for tapping a pole with his head -- an error that robbed him of a medal and placed him a disheartening fourth.

Then in the controversial team event Paul was stunned to receive a 50 second penalty after he was adjudged to have missed a gate on the first run. A protest was lodged, and meanwhile the lads completed a second run which would have given them gold -- but the objection was upheld and they had to settle for 15th.

A tough decision on trio. Paul admitted he was disappointed with the results but will now put them behind him and concentrate on battling for that coveted gold medal in next year's Olympics.

I wish him every success -- and much better fortune.