DARTFORD water skier Damien Sharman claimed a silver medal at the European championships in Surrey.

British skiers have long dominated the jump podium and with Thomas Asher injured, it was left to 2009 European champion Sharman and Jason Seels, a five time European jump champion, to battle it out for the title.

Germany’s Bojan Schipner set the mark for the following skiers to overcome with a jump of 64.5m (212 feet) to take the lead.

Seels was more than a match for this target, launching himself out to a distance of 68.1m (223 feet) with some impressive form in the air.

Russia’s Igor Morozov posted a 63.5m distance, leaving the water to Sharman to decide the medal placements.

He soared to 66.2m for the silver to make this the third year in succession British skiers have been on the top two steps of the jump podium.