Two paddlers from Melksham have been in Bosnia and Hertzagovena with the GB wildwater squad for the European Junior Wildwater Championships.
Katie Pocklington came 20th in the U23 K1 sprint and classic, and 4th in C1 team classic. Regan Toop did not compete, but went with the GB team as a fore runner, for the experience, and to check out the timing and the course.
The championships were held in Banja Luka, capital of Republika Srpska, an autonomous region of Bosnia and Hertzagovena.
Katie said, “Banja Luka was a fantastic experience. This was the third time I was selected for the GB squad, although covid cancelled the events in 2020. The river was beautiful but wild. I was a little disappointed with my performance, but it is brilliant to experience different places and cultures with the GB squad.”
Regan said, “What a fantastic time I had. To travel with the GB squad was a pleasure. They are a very friendly, inclusive bunch, and the experience I gained was invaluable. Hopefully I shall make the squad next year!”
Katie and Regan are members of the Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club which is based in King George V Park in Melksham. The club welcomes anyone interested in having a go; visit the WYCC Facebook page.
Wildwater canoe racing consists of two classes of events. The sprint is a race over approximately 400 meters of white water. The classic is contested over 3-4 kilometres and includes the sprint course. The remainder of the classic course could be flat or can be full of rapids.
In Banja Luca, on the classic course the 1,000m before the sprint course was full of rapids, and the 3,000m after the sprint course is relatively flat.
Within each class, the competition is split: U18 and U23; girls and boys; kayaks (K1) and canoes (C1 and C2); and individual and team. Canoes are paddled from a kneeling position, whereas you sit down to paddle a kayak.
Team GB won gold in the girls K1 individual classic, and silver in girls U23 C2 classic.
