Braintree bobsleigh ace Aleasha Kiddle admits it was not the finish she was looking for, but feels her sixth place at the FIBT Junior World Championships in Germany was a great experience for her.

Together with driver Mica McNeill, the 22-year-old former Braintree and District Athletic Club star, who has only come into the sport of bobsleigh racing this winter after being talent spotted at a Great Britain team selection event, secured a position just outside the top five.

Kiddle, who was a pupil at St Michaels Primary School and Tabor High School in Braintree, was brakewoman in the two women’s bobsleigh event and the British duo were looking to repeat the success they have seen on the FIBT World Cup circuit this year.

They headed to Altenberg for the Junior World Championships with McNeill, who was a Youth Olympic silver medallist two years ago, sitting tenth in the senior world driver rankings.

However, they were unable to achieve a top-five finish in Germany as they finished their first run 1.19 seconds off the gold medal pace and ended 2.32 seconds down on eventual winners Miriam Wagner and Lisa Marie Buckwitz of the host nation.

But Kiddle said she can take plenty from the competition.

She said: “The Junior World Championships were a great experience for me.

“I really enjoyed competing at this level and took a lot from it.”