Technorati Tags: canoe slalom, slalom, strong winds, World championships

The wind as been strong after the first runs paddlers were struggling to get clean runs with 50s being handed out left right and centre there was no doubt that the secound runs would be cancelled and re arranged for another day.

Reports from Gb canoeing “GB Canoeing Head Coach Jurg Gotz commented – ‘The athletes are naturally disappointed but are showing a very mature and positive approach to these circumstances. Canoe Slalom is about dealing with the unexpected and this is another factor that we have to deal with. Our athletes will be ready when the weather allows fair racing to start”

The event is planned to be re scheduled on Thursday with a meeting at 9am to discuss this.

Pictures by andy maddack and Full Report At GB Canoeing

Technorati Tags: 50s, 9am, canoeing, circumstances, head coach, kayak slalom, no doubt, slalom, team GB, weather

Ryan Westley and Bethan Latham two of teams GBs most talented juniors opened the international season of with a bang bringing home two medals, one being Ryans in the c1 mens and the other Bethan K1 womens. This is a great start to the season and hopefully a sign of things to come for Team GB with the 2012 London Olympics next year Team GB canoe slalom team will step up to the plate and show of at the brand new Lee Valley White Water Centre that has been recently opened to the public.

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Technorati Tags: Broxbourne, broxbourne centre, Broxbourne White Water, Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre, canoe slalom, hiko, lee valley, legacy, slalom, water use, waves, White Water

I got the privilege to interview David Florence with some interesting questions about his past and his aims for the future. All you young paddlers out there things didn’t just happen for David it was down to his hard work that has finally paid of. We wish him the best in the coming season of canoe slalom.

Where was it you first got onto the water?

My uncle brought some canoes to the beach one day and my brother and I had a shot, enjoyed it and wanted to go again.

Did you become hooked in the sport or did it take some getting into the sport?

I became hooked very quickly.

Can you remember your first canoe slalom competition and what was your results in it?

My first competition was in Comrie in Scotland and I didn’t do very well at all. I capsized and swam.

When you first started competing canoe slalom did you stand out or have you got where you are from you training in the sport?

I was a long way behind most of the other top juniors when I started out, but I was always very determined.

Who was your first sponsor and how did you go about getting it?

My first sponsor was Rasdex, who made canoeing equipment in Nottingham at the time and I just asked them if they’d help me out.

Did you ever think you was going to be so successful?

No, I just loved the sport and wanted to go as far as I could in canoe slalom.

Why did you choose C1 over K1?

I started doing a bit of C1 training so I could compete at K1 and C1 in the Scottish Schools Championships. I really enjoyed it and decided to switch to C1.

What do you think of the new Lee Valley White Water Centre?

It’s very impressive: very big water with lots of good drops and features. It’s one of the best courses in the world in my opinion.

Was the 2011 Team GB qualification event hard having paddled the course very few times if any?

I had been training there since the beginning of the year with the squad so I had done a fair bit of training there before British Team selection.

Do you get nervous before big events, if so what do you do to relax?

I usually feel a bit nervous, but I guess that’s only natural.

How often do you train and for how long?

I generally train twice a day for about 60-90 minutes, six days a week.

What does a training session consist of is it all just paddling or is it more specialised?

Most of my training is canoeing on the white water.

What are your hopes and aims for the future?

For now I’m looking towards the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Slightly tongue and cheek Who do you tip for Silver and Bronze in the London Olympics in the C1 and C2 event?

Haha, I appreciate your faith in me. The top guys to look out for in C1 are Estanguet of france and Martikan of Slovakia and in C2 the Hochschorner brothers of Slovakia have been very dominant for many years now.

What advice can you give to anyone that wants to compete at your level?

Train hard and enjoy it.

Technorati Tags: canoe slalom, canoes, david, David Florence, florence, interesting questions, juniors, nottingham, paddlers, privilege, scottish schools, slalom, team GB, White Water

Below are two videos that outline the successful bid to hold the 2015 world canoe championships. Both formed part of the bid Which helped the centre secure its second world event.
This video is more aimed at the area the infrastructure of London and the area.

This video is aimed at the Lee Valley White Water Centre the heart of GB Canoe Slalom.

Technorati Tags: 16th of april, Broxbourne, broxbourne centre, Broxbourne White Water, Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre, Canoe, canoe centre, canoe slalom, kayak slalom, lee valley centre, lee valley water, lee valley white water, London, public transport, slalom, team GB, tourist attractions, venue, waltham cross, White Water, White Water Canoe, White Water Canoe Centre

After the long and hard bank holiday weekend the Head coaches within Team GB have selected there team and these have been finalized and published.

Paddlers headed for London not for the royal Wedding but to get on the water at the brand new Lee Valley White Water Centre based in Waltham cross - Broxbourne.

The event was a great sucess with 5,000 members of the general public turing up to watch these athletics fight it out for a place on the team.

Local club HYMCOPS was asked to come alone and run a go paddling season on the lake which was intended to get the public interested in the sport and they had a very busy time catering for all ages even as young as four.

However the club was then asked if they could provide the water safety team. The Slalom course safety team had a mainly quiet weekend apart from Sunday when the strong wind conditions and a demanding course, and some careless gate judges provided them some activity.

The Club also got to try out the brand new Team GB C1 and C2 boats which makes a chance to the ones they are currently paddling. Members of the public were impressed with the New Lee Valley venue and it has been decided that test events should be open to the public rather than behind closed doors, so keep your eyes open for more information over the coming months.

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These are as followed for K1 Mens:

• Joseph Coombs
• Thomas Brady
• Joseph Clarke
• Joe Morley

For K1 Women’s:

• Louise Donington
• Bethan Latham
• Hannah Burgess
• Mallory Franklin

C1 Mens:

• Thomas Quinn
• Greg Pitt
• Adam Marshall
  
  

Due to the limited number of C1 ladies participation  in the category they have made the decision not to pick anyone for the reserves team.

C2 reserves

• George Tatchell/ Thomas Quinn

Best of luck to all the reserve team who will still take part in international competitions they do not have a confirmed position in the championships

Technorati Tags: Adam Marshall, Bethan Latham, c1, c2, canoe slalom, George Tatchell/ Thomas Quinn, Greg Pitt, Hannah Burgess, international competitions, Joe Morley, Joseph Clarke, Joseph Coombs, Louise Donington, Mallory Franklin, Olympics, reserves team, slalom, team GB, Thomas Brady, Thomas Quinn

K1 Mens results are as follows:

Coming in a strong first place was Richard Hounslow securing his place in the team for the international season ahead.

Campbell Walsh came in with second place.

And taking the third and final place on the team was Huw Swetnam who came in third overall over the three day period.

C1 Womens results are as follows:

Only the top two from this catergory went though into the team as there is not so many competitors in the class.

Taking first place was 16 year old Mallory Franklin showing her skill as she dominated the women’s C1

And taking the second place in the team was Alice Spencer she also showed talent on the water and hopfully there will be a few medals going her way in the months ahead.

Technorati Tags: alice spencer, c1, c2, campbell walsh, catergory, fatigue, huw swetnam, k1, Mallory Franklin, medals, Richard Hounslow, slalom, team GB

The competition to place over the 3 day bank holiday weekend with racing taking place at the Olympic venue Lee Valley White Water Canoe Centre which has a few busy years to come with the London 2012 Olympics next year as well as the 2015 world championships. Over 5000 members of the general public visited the event which shows the new venue has a real impact on family’s around the area all wanting to be part of the amazing facility. They all got a great view the course and the GB best canoe slalom paddlers.

C2 results were as follows:

First place goes to Medallist David Florence and partner Richard Hounslow (these two had already pre qualified for international season however they still raced to take first place in three races over the course of the weekend).

Second Place went to Rhys Davies and Matt Lister

And third to Adam Burgess and Greg Pitt.

In the C1 category the results were as follows:

Taking first place was David Florence, he struggled through round one but dominated the 2 other rounds over the weekend.

Coming in a close second was Mark Proctor who really proved his position in the Team GB  in the later round on day three.

Daniel Goddard took the third and final place in the team this is a great result for him after changing from C2 to C1 during the winter months.

Women’s K1 results

Laura Blakeman secured her place in the team with a win on day one and coming in second on day two and three.  This will be great for her after missing out in a place in the team last year.

Fiona Pennie a 2008 Olympian came in second overall just missing out on first spot after taking a win and second place.

And the third and final spot going to Lizzie Neave who won a silver medal in the 2009 world championships

A big congratulations needs to go out to Mallory Franklin who joined the senior team last year at the age of 15 and she dominated the women’s c1 group hopefully she will soon be in the team and be able to show her talent around the world.

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