WESTHOUGHTON skeleton rider Jack Thomas is ready to build on his best-ever World Cup result when he competes in the European Championships on Saturday.

After failing to make the cut for the second run of the first two races in the series, the 26-year-old former Horwich RMI sprinter managed to break his duck on the demanding Altenberg track in Germany last weekend and eventually finished 15th.

He stayed in Germany with the British team this week ahead of the next World Cup event at Winterberg, which will also double up as the European Championships.

Thomas said: “I've been happy with how things have been going in training over the last few weeks but to make my first cut of the season was obviously a big plus.

"I said before Christmas that I feel I'm good enough to compete at this level and this result is definitely a step in the right direction.

"I put together two solid runs – with a few mistakes – and to finish 15th in a strong field is a big positive to take into this weekend.”

With races coming thick and fast for the next four weeks, it’s a tough schedule and one which the former athlete knows will require him to be at his best, both mentally and physically, if he is to head to mid-February’s World Championships in high spirits.

“We've got a full schedule of races over the next month so the key now is consistency,” added Thomas.

“I want to make sure I'm pushing on now and regularly making the top 20. Fifteenth is my best World Cup finish to date so the next obvious step is to improve on that.

"I'm training hard in the week and enjoying being part of a team where we work well together on and off the track and I'm confident I can keep improving.

“I've not raced at Winterberg since late 2014 but I'm looking forward to testing myself there.

"The challenges come thick and fast on the top circuit but that's why I'm in this sport – to test myself against the best, week in, week out.”