WITH the final national sprint regatta of the year completed, Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club (WYCC) can look back on a successful year.
During the year, finals were achieved by all WYCC competitors; Molly, Flo and Harriet Gwyn, Regan Toop, Katie Pocklington, Sam Sullivan, Ed Nightingale, Jake Marsh, Issy and Issac Whitlock, and Will Beard.
Some of the highlights from the year include: several first, second and thirds for Harriet Gwyn, a silver for Ed Nightingale in U23 200m, a bronze in K2 200m for Katie Pocklington, and a bronze for Sam Sullivan in the 500m C1.
Also, Katie was selected to represent GB at the European white-water championship in Banja Luca, and Regan went with the team as a fore runner. A spokesperson for the team said, “There are four national sprint regattas a year, held at the artificial 2000m lake at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham: two are contested at competence level, regardless of age, other than that there are separate divisions for under 18 and over 18.
Thus, when you get out of the younger children’s categories, competition is at girls and boys division D, going up to A. Promotion is by time, adjusted for conditions.
“The number of competitors in boys and girls A is single figures, sometimes as few as four, so you would be unlucky to achieve this level and not compete for GB!
“The other two are the canoe clubs’ championship and the national championship, which is competed for by age group rather than division, and also doubles as selection races for the GB team. All in all, we have had a very good year!”