MALDON kitesurfing ace Matthew Bunn is certainly flying high after landing a top-two spot at the latest round of the British Kitesurfing Championships and he is now targeting a spot on the podium finish in the overall 2016 standings.

The 25-year-old, who is originally from South Woodham Ferrers and has been kitesurfing for eight years, soared to success on the water off Lancing in Sussex, taking second place in the Masters Freestyle category - one level below the Pro Fleet.

Bunn, who is sponsored by, Colchester Fluid Lines, North Kiteboarding UK and Norst, had to perform tricks that were judged on technicality, speed and power to battle his way through to the final.

Bunn, who is a former regional amateur champion, said: "In my first heat, I rode against a good friend, Kevin Matthey, and managed to take the win with some of my best riding I've ever done, landing all my tricks and progressing straight through to the final

"In the final, I was up against some hard competition, but managed to put together a good run of aggressive freestyle tricks and took second place."

The next and final stop in the British Kitesurfing Championships is at Hunstanton in Norfolk where Bunn will be looking to place well again and is hoping to secure a finish on the podium for the overall championship.

Bunn's girlfriend, Bex Reader, is also highly-placed in the sport and is riding in the women's Pro Fleet for the first time this year.