U23 & Junior World Championships

Posted By: Chris Bowers Published: 24/07/2019



This year’s U23 & Junior worlds was held in Krakow, Poland. The event started on Tuesday with the team event all off the British teams gave it their all, some fared better than others. Huge congrats to the K1W & C1M Junior for their bronze medal team performance and also to the show the K1M Juniors put on winning gold showing the true depth of the K1M in the UK at the minute.




Wednesday was a new challenge as everybody had their individual heats runs, this started with the U23. All off the U23 showed strong paddling in the heats with 10/12 qualifying for the semi-final, two missing out due to costly penalties on a very technically challenging course.




Thursday was then the turn of the juniors all who kept their heads cool and all qualified for the semi-finals. The semi-final/ final day began on Friday with the K1W and C1M both U23 & Junior, the morning started with the U23 athletes where the C1M produced very respectable runs but unfortunately just missing out on the final due to a very competitive field.




The K1W produced strong runs in the semi-final qualifying them for the final and finishing up in 7th & 8th. The afternoon meant it was the juniors turn with both Alfie Boot and James Kettle making their first ever final in their first year on the team and finishing 6th & 8th respectively showing promise for the future with very good pace throughout the competition.




It wasn’t quiet to be for the Junior K1W with Lois Leaver just missing out in 11th place. The last day of the slalom was the turn of the C1W & K1M. Unfortunately, Sophie Ogilvie couldn’t quiet keep up here form found at the start of the season with penalties proving costly and missing out on the final.




In the K1M Zac Allin struggled from the off with a mistake at the start leading him to never quite get into his run, I managed to place sneak into the final with a two second penalty but then was not to be in the final with two penalties proving costly and finishing up in 6th place.




With the afternoon came the turn of the juniors there was high hopes of us picking some more medals. First the C1W began their challenge with Ellis Miller delivering a run that was not quite enough finishing her up in 11th place, however Beth Forrow made the final and produced one of the fastest runs in the final but with penalties knocking her down to 7th place.




Finally, the K1M started their campaign showing the strength they had at the Europeans with all 3 making the final. In the final they all left it out there with Etienne Chappell picking up a 50 second penalty, Ben Haylett getting costly penalties and Johnny Dickinson delivering a run that was not quite enough for the medal finishing 9th, 6th & 4th respectively.




Sunday was the turn off the Boater cross with Etienne Chappell ready for redemption he produced a stunning performance winning the Juniors and being crowned Junior World Champion.




The team produced some excellent performances and showed great team sprit throughout the competition and once again a huge thank you to Peak UK for the support as always.



Words - Chris Bowers

Pictures - British Canoeing

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