on his first run for Saturday's World Cup luge event in Nagano, Japan.

The 26-year-old, who is aiming to represent the Island at the Salt Lake City Winter Olmpics next year, was taking part in his first World Cup event after an absence of more than a year.

An injury suffered in a high-speed crash last year and lack of finances have limited Singleton's opportunities to compete and he missed this season's first five World Cup meets, all held in Europe.

And damage to his sled suffered in a crash last month added weight to the odds against the Federation of International Luge team member.

Nagano was the scene of Singleton's Olympic debut three years ago and to qualify at the first of five possible attempts will have given the Tokyo-based TV producer a terrific boost.

Singleton aims to compete in the next two World Cup events on the Salt Lake City Olympic track next week and at Lake Placid the following week, as well as the World Championships in Calgary, Canada, on the last weekend of this month.