TROWBRIDGE pilot John Jackson gave himself a pre-Winter Olympic boost by finishing fifth in the four-man event at the test event in Sochi, Russia, today.

Paxcroft Mead's Jackson, who guided his crew to a similar finish at the World Championships in St Moritz, Switzerland, earlier this month, rounded off his World Cup campaign in style, finishing just 0.18 of a second off the podium.

It equalled the Wiltshire-based driver's best World Cup finish of the season and left him fifth overall in the final World Cup standings.

Jackson said on Twitter: "Great way to finish the World Cup season 5th at the Olympic test event. Now we know where we need to improve for the 2014 Olympics.''

Jackson, whose partner Paula Walker is the top British women's pilot, is expected to spearhead the country's bid for medals at the Sochi Games next year.

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