Thompson back in contention after impressive day in Weymouth

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat, in Weymouth

 NICK Thompson had a smile back on his face after forcing his way back into medal contention at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth.

BACK IN CONTENTION: Nick Thompson produces the goods in Weymouth to stay in medal contention at the final ISAF World Cup regatta of the season (onEdition)

The bronze medal winner at the 2009 Laser World Championships endured a tough day at Portland harbour on Thursday - finishing 16th and 26th to slip dangerously close to the medal race cut.

But he bounced back in style collecting a second and fifth to move into fourth ahead of Saturday's medal races - two points behind Canada's Michael Leigh, currently lying in bronze position.

With the Weymouth regatta the seventh and final leg of the ISAF World Cup, Thompson still has his sights set on finishing in top spot, entering the week in second behind Spain's Javier Hernandez.

And the 24-year-old is putting his friendship with fellow Brit Paul Goodison on the back burner for one more day in order to leave Weymouth with a medal around his neck.

"I had a great day," he said. "I came in second and then fifth which is pleasing because I've had a disappointing week. Still, to pull it off on the last day is when it really counts.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back out there now and the medal races are always really exciting. The wind that we've had all week has made for interesting racing and it should be the same which will make it entertaining.

"It's nice to beat Paul because obviously we're on the same team but at the end of the day he's just another competitor who's out on the water for you to beat.

"It's great for both of us to be up there going into the medal races on home turf so to speak but it's another day and I've got to make sure I perform well again.

"Hopefully I can go out there again and put in another performance in a big race and walk away with a medal."

Goodison heads into the medal races in second place just eight points behind the dominant Australian Tom Slingsby.

The 2009 Laser World Champion was in impressive form yesterday recording a third and first to head into the medal races in style.

And another Brit bouncing back was Ben Ainslie who climbed back into second place in the Finn class with a tenth and fifth.

Ainslie started the day in fifth after the a 14th and 11th on Thursday showing signs of fatigue with this being his first return to Finn sailing since Beijing 2008.

But despite his hiatus, Ainslie now sits within touching distance of leader and fellow Brit Giles Scott in the hunt for the gold medal and insists his tired body is ready for one final push.

"It was another really tough day out there and the wind was really tricky to read and it was really hard," said Ainslie.

"I made a few mistakes today but it's just refreshing for me to be back out there doing some Finn racing in the fleet because it's been a while since it happened.

"My body has been better to be honest but it's not as bad as it was after the third day when I was really starting to struggle physically.

"There are lots of aches and pains but I think the body is starting to get used to the pain again and I am sure I will be fine for the medal races."