Happy New Year!! World Championships Here We Come!!

Well its time to tell you all the good news now that the mince pies have settled (in our stomachs) and the Christmas decorations have come down. Before Christmas, on a cold weekend at Lee Valley, the National Team Selections took place for Raft Racing. We had a big turn out of teams all as enthusiastic as ever and all competing for the glory of being the Great British Team.

Each Team competed in the 4 main disciplines; Time-trial, Head to Head, Slalom and Endurance. Each and every team did themselves proud as there was some tough competition.

The event was lent some glamour in the form of Olympic Gold Medalist Etienne Stott designing the slalom course, and we were lucky enough to get a photo with him!!

But with the all hard work and training we put inthroughout the year, we kept the top spot and once again secured our title as Team GB! Woop Woop! (Phew!)

SO NOW WE ARE OFF TO NEW ZEALAND IN NOVEMBER AND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!!

 

The results for selections are:

Women’s:

Gold:  Team Palm maintain their GB Team status

Silver: Welsh Dragons

Bronze: Raft Chicks

 

Men’s:

Gold: Team PeakUK maintain their GB Team status

Silver: Dark Dog,

Bronze: Amathus

 

A MASSIVE thank you to Lee Valley and Pas for putting the event on, and a huge thanks to Etienne Stott for the slalom course and his Olympic amazingness. But this event would not have happened if not for the safety guys n’ gals and volunteers who gave up their time and all those who took part. So a very BIG THANKYOU to them.

If you think any of this looks like good fun and you want to get involved get some friends together and get in touch. There are going to be loads of open events in the UK next year!

Photos: Deb Cook and Pals

Words: Fran Kohn