Words: Billy Blackman
Wild Water Racing’s golden girl Kerry Christie topped off her 2024 season by
winning the mixed K2 at the Krumlov descent marathon in the Czech Republic.
Racing with Leamington Spa’s Sam Cribbet in the rear of the boat, the pair
took an early lead to take gold beating the Czech stars Josef Dostál and
Anežka Paloudová.
Kerry said:
“We had a great start and getting through the first weir with the
lead group which meant we didn’t get caught up in all the capsizes and
carnage of the first weir, which is only 1km into the race.
“I was really pleased with my lines on the weirs and considering it was Sam’s first
descent race, he was brilliant in the back of the boat”.
Sam rounded his day up saying: ” Being my first international descent race I
didn’t really know what to expect or how I’d get on with the weirs, so super
please with our result especially beating Dostál and Paloudová .
“Kerry did a great job in safely getting us down all the weirs and rapids, I’ve had a
great time and now I’ve had a taste, I’d love to do more in the future”.
The race is held each year in the south of the Czech Republic and one of the
big established international descent races along with the Ardeche and
Liffey, attracting stars from the world of wild water, marathon and sprint.
The course is mainly fast flowing grade 1 and 2 rapids, with 9 weir shoots
and 1 portage.
Other results from GB paddlers:
12th Billy Butler and Jon O’Grady – Senior K2
14th Nicky Cresser and Matt Enoch – Senior K2
22nd Grant Anderson and Colin Cartwright – Senior K2
26th Jamie Christie and Neil Blackman – Senior K2
4th Huw Singleton – Junior WWR
9th Regan Toop – Junior WWR
12th Nigel Jones – Vets K1
11th Ross Pearton – C1