Reporting for this year’s Junior/U23 World Championships is Kimberley Woods, who will provide a unique perspective on the event.
Each day, Woods will report on the results day to day and gain an insight from the athletes on the ground.
Foix, France is the location for our Junior & U23 World Championships for 2025.
It was last here in 2010, where we saw a number of our now senior team athletes competing for the first time.
15 years later a whole new generation of athletes are competing, with many first timers and a few returning 2024 finalists and the reigning K1W U23 World Champion.
Lois Leaver’s 2025 season has got off to a great start, winning three World Cup bronze medals back to back across slalom and kayak cross.
This is her last year on the U23 Team and she is looking to go out with a bang.
“I am excited for the opportunity to be back and defend my title this week especially after a good start to the season,” says Leaver.
“I feel like I’ve got some good confidence to take into racing here in Foix and I’m looking to keep building on from the senior races.”
Leaver will be joined by Macy Kang and finalist from last year’s worlds, Ellis Miller.
Miller will also be hitting the startline in C1, after gaining a lot of race experience on the senior circuit.
Sadie Sterry (Llandysul) is also making her debut on the British team for C1W to join Miller.
Unfortunately Joanna Blythe-Shields has had to withdraw from the race last minute due to an injury, therefore there will be no C1W U23 team competing on Wednesday.
Making a return, but this time as a U23, is Jonah Hanrahan who made his mark in 2024 medalling in kayak cross.
Alongside him will be returning member and fourth place at last year’s championships, Sam Leaver, who has also been busy on the senior circuit in Kayak Cross medalling at the senior European Championships.
Tom Mayer from Stafford & Stone Canoe Club will complete the trio, his last time on the team was in 2021 as a junior.
This year’s C1M U23 team concludes with Phillip Smith (Winchester and District), returning team member Ed McDonald and new senior team member Luc Royle, who is looking to improve from fourth at his last year’s world championships.
“The senior experience this year will be beneficial going into the U23 Worlds,” says Royle.
“Foix is a very different course and tests a lot of skills that perhaps haven’t been utilised as much so far.
“It’s good to have a few key races under the belt before going underway, rather than this being the first key race of the year.
“I am definitely fired up to try and get myself on that podium this year after being agonisingly close to it last year, it will be difficult given it’s the French home course with a lot of good French athletes along with the Czechs and the Italians.”
The junior team will also see Zoe Blythe-Shields compete for her final year in both K1 and C1.
Alongside her in K1 will be Arina Kontchakov and Sofia Alfer, who are both competing in their final year as juniors.
In the C1W we will see Darcey McMullins (Lee Valley), and new team member Jasmine Wilde (Frome) making her debut.
Talu Aysen (Lee Valley) and Leo Miller (Stafford & Stone) will join 2024 team member Lewis Arden in Wednesday’s team events.
Gwion Williams will be making a strong return after dominating the selection series in April, he will be looking to improve his 16th from last year’s world championships.
Also making their debuts are Dominic Thomas (Lee Valley) and Harry Kirby (Stafford & Stone). All three will also be competing in the kayak cross event at the weekend.
The team is then concluded with Kayak Cross starting with the individual time trial on Saturday 12th July and the head to head racing on the 13th.
Katie Shattock will be joining the U23 KX team with Lois Leaver and Macy Kang, with Olwen Yates joining Kontchakov and McMullins in the Junior KXW Team.
McDonald switches from his C1 into KX to join Sam and Tom.
You can watch all the action live on Planet Canoe’s Youtube channel.
Follow along with the results here.
SLALOM
U23 Team
K1W
Lois Leaver – Edinburgh Schools
Ellis Miller – Lee Valley Paddle Sports
Macy Kang – Holme Pierrepont
K1M
Jonah Hanrahan – Independent
Sam Leaver – Edinburgh Schools
Tom Mayer – Stafford & Stone
C1W
Ellis Miller – Lee Valley Paddle Sports
Sadie Sterry – Llandysul
Joanna Blythe-Shields – Independent* – withdrawn due to injury
C1M
Luc Royle – Stafford & Stone
Phillip Smith – Winchester & District
Ed McDonald – Holme Pierrepont
Junior Team
K1W
Zoe Blythe-Shields – Independent
Arina Kontchakov – Lee Valley Paddle Sports
Sofia Alfer – Wyedean
K1M
Gwion Williams – Llandysul
Harry Kirby – Stafford & Stone
Dominic Thomas – Shepperton
C1W
Zoe Blythe-Shields – Independent
Darcey McMullins – Lee Valley Paddle Sports
Jasmine Wilde – Frome
C1M
Talu Aysen – Lee Valley Paddle Sports
Lewis Arden – Manvers
Leo Miller – Stafford and Stone
KAYAK CROSS
KXM
U23
Sam Leaver – Edinburgh Schools
Tom Mayer – Stafford & Stone
Ed McDonald – Holme Pierrepont
Junior
Gwion Williams – Llandysul
Harry Kirby – Stafford & Stone
Dominic Thomas – Shepperton
KXW
U23
Lois Leaver – Edinburgh Schools
Katie Shattock – Taunton
Macy Kang – Holme Pierrepont
Junior
Arina Kontchakov – Lee Valley Paddle Sports
Olwen Yates – Stafford & Stone
Darcey McMullins – Lee Valley Paddle Sports