Lower Sixth pupil George U. has been selected for the British Canoeing GB Wildwater Team to race at the Junior World Championships.
Lower Sixth pupil George U. has been selected for the British Canoeing GB Wildwater Team to race at the Junior World Championships, held on the river Vrbas in Bosnia in July. The five-day event is organised by the International Canoe Federation (ICF).
George’s selection races were held during Easter break at Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, where he won the junior class over both sprint and classic distances. His first wildwater race was only 18 months ago and since then he has been coached and guided by Rob Jefferies, member of the GB squad, who has helped him build up quickly to international level. His training has included being at the club twice a week for 6am since Christmas, and paddling in the dark with frozen kit.
George’s first national ranking race was at Nottingham last September, followed by one in Wales, then Northumberland and Durham. George then did a 900-mile round trip in February half term alongside his father, to train and race at Grand Tully in Scotland. He was also able to get his 3* Whitewater achievement through Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at Capel Curig last October half-term.
Very best of luck to George and his GB teammates – we will be eagerly awaiting their results in July! Details of the event can be found on the ICF’s website here.