Rudman is seeking her first overall World title

Britain's Shelley Rudman missed out on the World Cup skeleton title after she struggled with a virus.

The 29-year-old finished seventh in Cesana, Italy, her worst result of the season, as Germany's Anja Huber was crowned overall World Cup champion.

Huber had not been out of the top three all season, although Rudman had won the previous two races before Italy.

Rudman, who finished second in the standings, told her Twitter followers: "I gave everything I could."

She added: "Just didn't have that killer race instinct today that usually sees me through. To be fair, it took all my energy to get to the start line."

Rudman, who won silver at the Cesana track at the 2006 Winter Olympics, had resigned herself to not winning her maiden title.

But the Sheffield slider was still happy with her World Cup season: "I've had a fantastic season. Six podiums, two track records, two golds. Would have been great to challenge today - as it happens I defended silver."

British team-mate Donna Creighton finished fourth, equalling her best result of the season, and Amy Williams, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games gold medallist, was eighth as all the Britons finished inside the top 10.

Although the World Cup season is over, the team will be competing at the World Championships in Koenigssee, Germany, between 24 and 26 February.

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