Goodison is checked for ‘muscular pains’ after disappointing display

The 34-year-old from Rotherham finished 10th in his first race and ended a lowly 23rd in the second.

Goodison’s disappointment was compounded by the fact fierce rival Tom Slingsby of Australia finished the day top of the overall table after a first and second.

The Briton’s poor showing might have been explained when Team GB leader Stephen Park revealed last night that Goodison needed a precautionary assessment after racing. “He had one or two muscular pains so we just want to get him checked over,” said Park.

“We want to keep on top of it so at this stage of the event that is far more important. It is preventional.”

British 49er skipper Stevie Morrison admitted yesterday’s races were “worse than average” but is confident they will turn things around.

The 33-year-old and crew Ben Rhodes saw their campaign get off to a difficult start as they picked up two 12th-place finishes.

The Exmouth duo are fancied by many for a podium spot and, although their main rivals failed to capitalise in the first race, they received a fierce punch from favourites Australia in the second.

Morrison and Rhodes had downplayed the dominance of Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen during the week, but saw them recover from an eighth-place finish to win the next race.

Morrison and Rhodes sit 12th overall, 18 points behind leaders Allan Norregaard and Peter Lang of Denmark. Outteridge and Jensen are three points off the lead in third.

Three-time gold medallist Ben Ainslie could only finish yesterday’s first Finn race in sixth place as Denmark’s Jonas Hogh-Christensen, victor in both races on day one, finished second to New Zealand’s Dan Slater in Weymouth Bay.