MELKSHAM-based junior canoeists have been making waves across the globe with a number of successes in national and international competitions.
The juniors all train at Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club at the Melksham Adventure Centre, coached by British Canoeing sprint coach, Kevin Bowerbank.
A triumphant Mollie Ball, aged 11, won gold at the National Canoe Marathon Championships in the K1 (singles) category and the K2 (doubles) Girls’ Under 12 category.
On winning both of the national championship titles Mollie said, “I have worked really hard on my canoeing this year and I am so pleased that all of my hard work has paid off. I’m delighted with my results at the nationals.”
Mollie’s K2 partner was Banbury Canoe Club’s Izzy Bayliss.
Further success for the club came when member Ed Nightingale, aged 15, represented Great Britain at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Gyor, Hungary, winning bronze in the K4 500m with team mates Enya Dale (Oxford Falcon Canoe Club), Zoe Clark (Royal Canoe Club) and Alex Greaves (Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club).
The team put in an impressive performance, working hard to knock out the strong Hungarian K4 team in the semi-finals.
At the Wildwater Junior World Championships in Murau, Austria, Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club members Lucy Brown, aged 18, Jodie Ball, 17, and Freddie Brown, 17, represented Great Britain.
The team had to cope with extremely challenging conditions on the water thanks to torrential rain, but managed to produce credible results, narrowly missing the finals in their K1 events.
The girls’ team, including Lucy and Jodie, came 5th in the classic team race.
“I am very proud of all the canoeists and pleased with all these achievements in the different championships,” said coach Kevin. “This is the result of a lot of hard work over the past year.
“There is a lot more to come from the club. The canoe club has a bright future, with many more youngsters at the club showing great potential.”