Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship holder Tom Slingsby has staged a dramatic last race fight back to claim a Bronze medal at the 2010 Laser European Championship in Estonia.

Slingsby entered the final day outside the medals in fourth position, knowing that he’d have his work cut out for him to chase down the leaders.

The day didn’t get off to the best start with the dual Laser World Champion finishing the opening race in 25th position and slipping to eighth overall.

However, Slingsby turned it on in the final race of the regatta with an emphatic last race win to jump up the leader board and finish third overall, behind winner Tonci Stipanovic of Croatia and Great Britain’s Paul Goodison.

‘Today was a real up and down day for me,’ Slingsby said.

‘I had a 25th position finish and a win to finish third overall. I would have liked to win but I guess third isn’t too bad.’

Slingsby’s third place comes off the back of his victory at round five of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Holland a fortnight ago and he now heads to Germany for round six of the World Cup.

‘I will have a couple of days to prepare for Kiel before racing starts.  Hopefully I can jump two spots further up the leader board there,’ Slingsby said.