DAVID FLORENCE, the 2013 world champion, led the Scottish assault on the European Canoe Slalom Championships in Leipzig.

The double Olympic silver medallist comfortably qualified for today's (Sat) semi-finals of the canoe singles when he was third in his heat with a clean run of 98.93 seconds.

Stanislav Jezek, from the Czech Republic, led the way with 97.91 seconds with the dangerous Sideris Tasiadis, from hosts Germany, second fastest with 98.63 seconds.

All four Scots advanced through their heats with Eilidh Gibson third in her second run in the women's canoe singles with 131.49 seconds, after picking up a four-second penalty.

In the men's kayak, Roslin's Bradley Forbes-Cryans, competing in his first major senior championships, qualified for the semi-finals with a clean 99.47 seconds, 14th fastest.

Crieff's Fiona Pennie, bidding to regain the title she won in Krakow two years ago, eased through to tomorrow's (Sun) semi-finals of the women's kayak when she was 13th in her heat.