Athletes from across the country descended on the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham over the weekend to contest two days of sprint and paracanoe selection racing as the 2025 season nears.
Racing across senior, U23 and junior events, athletes battled it out in a sun-soaked Nottingham as they looked to secure a place at the early competitions of the 2025 international season.
After a hugely successful Paris 2024 Paralympics last summer, a number of Britain’s paracanoe stars were back on home waters for their first races since the Games.
Paralympic Champion Laura Sugar MBE claimed two wins in the women’s KL3 on the first day of racing, putting in solid performances ahead of Hope Gordon.
Gordon, a Paralympic silver medallist in the women’s VL3, did return on the second day to race the event against double Paralympic Champion Charlotte Henshaw MBE.
It was Gordon who won on both occasions, with just a second separating the duo on race one.
Henshaw, who triumphed in both the VL3 and KL2 in Paris last summer, did take on the latter event during the first day of racing, showcasing some impressive performances, including a 49.35.
Dave Phillipson was in men’s KL2 action off the back of an incredible 2024, which saw him win Paralympic silver in the French capital. He delivered two strong runs, including a 45.04.
There were great contests in the men’s KL3 and men’s VL3 also.
Rob Oliver and Jonny Young were too close to call as they each took a win in the KL3. Tokyo bronze medallist Oliver was victorious during the first race, whilst Young took the second, with just 0.2 between them on both occasions.
It was a similar scenario in the men’s VL3 as Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist Jack Eyers and Tokyo bronze medallist Stu Wood went head-to-head, with the pair taking a victory each during Sunday.
A Paralympic debutant last year, Ed Clifton (Chelmsford) went up against Xander Van Der Poll (Royal Leamington Spa) in the men’s VL2, with Clifton putting in two solid performances to get both wins
In the canoe sprint, Emma Russell (Chelmsford) shone in the women’s K1. Leading the way in a great 500m final, she held off a fight from Deborah Kerr (Anker Valley) to take the top spot by half a second.
And she engaged in an even closer battle during the 1000m final. Russell was chased all the way by Lucy Lee-Smith (Norwich) with the pair eventually separated by just 0.2 seconds as Russell banked her second win.
Elsewhere, Tokyo Olympian Kerr did get her victory in the 200m, as she went head-to-head with fellow Olympian Emily Lewis (Worcester), with 0.19 seconds between the duo.
Double U23 European Champion Kristina Armstrong (Scottish Performance Squad) took two wins in the U23 category, winning the 500m and 1000m with Amy Green (Worcester) taking victory in the 200m.
Dianora De Bilio (Royal) and Annie Bates (Richmond) shared the victories in the U18s, with De Bilio winning the 200m and 500m finals, whilst Bates pipped Lucy Cullen (Salmon Leap) by 0.3 seconds in the 1000m final.
Lincoln’s Tom Lambert put in a dominating display across the men’s C1 events, coming away with a trio of victories in the 200m, 500m and 1000m finals.
Beth Gill (Nottingham) achieved a similar feat in the women’s C1, winning both the 500m and 200m finals, the latter being a thrilling contest with Afton Fitzhenry (Belfast) as 0.03 seconds separated the duo.
Dan Johnson (Nottingham) kick-started his 2025 season with a victory in the men’s K1 1000m final as he finished over a second clear of the field.
It was Sean Buttery (Salmon Leap) who won the U18 1000m final, as he was closely followed by Tom Hatton (Richmond).
Hatton did get his victory in the K1 200m however, as he and clubmate Isaac Aveson were neck and neck throughout.
Wey’s Tom Holland won the senior/U23 K1 200m race in 38.72, with Solihull’s Tom Lusty just 0.19 seconds off.
Phil Miles (Royal Leamington Spa) was triumphant in the K1 500m final, finishing in 1:52.22, with Matt Collinge (Fowey) and Dan Johnson making up the top three.
Olivier Mazur (Reading) rounded off his weekend with a win in the U18 500m final.
Ekaitz Saies, head coach for Paddle UK, said:
“This weekend has been great. It’s been a great atmosphere and the performances have been very promising.
“There was close racing throughout, particularly in the women’s, and I’m just impressed with how athletes have approached their races.
“The attitudes in those races and seeing athletes fight right to the finish line.
“We decided to move the Paddle UK gazebos to the other side of the lake for a couple of reasons. Firstly, to be close with the clubs and wider community, showing younger athletes how our top athletes warm up and prepare for a race.
“The other goal was to rehearse what a World Cup can feel like. Getting out of our comfort zone and try to mimic something closer to an international regatta.
“I’ve enjoyed working with Paddle UK so far. Working with the best paracanoe team in the world is so motivating, but also seeing we need to build a legacy there.
“There is a great opportunity with the canoe sprint team after the unfortunate setback of not qualifying for the Olympics. There’s so much talent and potential in the team that gives me hope to build something great and make the community proud.”