An athlete pool has today been announced for the senior canoe sprint team ahead of 2025 World Cups 1 & 2 in May, as well as the European Championships in June.
Paracanoe teams have also been announced as the team returns to action following a record-breaking Paralympic Games last summer.
Athletes raced across two days at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, and the sprint and paracanoe international panel has today confirmed teams and pools ahead of the early competitions across senior, U23 and junior taking place in May and June.
Two race victories in the K1 500m & 1000m see Emma Russell (Chelmsford) take a place in the women’s kayak pool, whilst Tokyo Olympians Deb Kerr (Anker Valley) and Emily Lewis (Worcester) will also take their places after strong racing at the April regatta.
Double U23 European Champion Kristina Armstrong (Scottish Performance Squad) is selected, as is K2 500m European Champion Zoe Clark (Royal)
Lucy Lee-Smith (Norwich), Amy Green (Worcester) and Abi Burgess (Wey) complete women’s kayak pool selected.
In the women’s canoe, Beth Gill (Nottingham) and Afton Fitzhenry (Belfast) are both in the athlete pool after some thrilling contests over the weekend.
In the men’s, Tom Lambert (Lincoln) is the sole member of the canoe pool as he looks to build on his strong performances in 2024.
Dan Johnson (Nottingham) features in the men’s kayak pool after winning the K1 1000m final on Saturday, whilst Phil Miles (Royal Leamington Spa) and Tom Holland (Wey) are also nominated after winning the 500m and 200m finals respectively.
Matt Collinge (Fowey) and Tom Lusty (Solhull) too feature in the selection pool after strong weekends, whilst Matt Johnson (Chelmsford) and Benji Cabrera (Nottingham) complete the senior team pool.
Actual nominal entries for the World Cups will be announced by 1 May, whilst crew boat combinations will be confirmed by 4 June.
The world-leading paracanoe team will also be back in action at the World Cup and European Championships following the team’s most successful Paralympic Games at Paris 2024, winning eight medals.
Paralympic Champions Laura Sugar MBE and Charlotte Henshaw MBE will race internationally since their gold medals in the French capital last summer. Sugar will be taking on the women’s KL3, whilst Henshaw, who won a historic double gold, will be racing the VL3 and KL2.
Winning their first Games medals last summer, Paralympic silver medallists Dave Phillipson (KL2) and Hope Gordon (KL3 & VL3) will also be in action across the World Cup and European Championships.
Winning silver on his Games debut, Jack Eyers will race the men’s VL3 European Championships in Racice, Czechia, alongside Tokyo bronze medallist Stu Wood, who will also race the World Cup in May.
One of three debutants at Paris 2024, Ed Clifton (Chelmsford) will race both internationals in the men’s VL2.
Royal Leamington Spa duo Jon Tarrant and Charlie Knowlden will contest the men’s KL3 at the World Cup in Poznan, with the club being further represented at the European Championships as Xander Van Der Poll will be racing the men’s VL2 in his second international season, whilst Taylor Gough will make history as Britain’s first VL1 man to race internationally.
Neck and neck at selections, World Cup gold medallist Jonny Young and Tokyo2020 bronze medallist Rob Oliver will go head-to-head again at the European Championships in the men’s VL3, whilst Lindsay Thrope (4AS) will race the Europeans after winning silver in the women’s KL3 last season.
A 19-strong athlete pool has also been announced for the U23 Crew Boat process based on their performances from the April selection regatta, with athletes looking to race the U23 World and European Championships taking place across the summer.
Men’s Kayak
Tom Holland WEY
Dylan O’Connor RIC
Benji Cabrera NOT
Michael Motha ADD
Nelson Kinzler RIC
Xav Hinves SOU
Gabriel Popham-Covely NOT
Lewis Smith ROY
Andre Hinves SOU
Women’s Kayak
Kristina Armstrong LKR
Amy Green WOR
Katie Pocklington NOT
Jessie Urquhart NOT
Grace Anderson NOR
Elise Montagna ROY
Lucy Guest NOT
Edie King ROY
Katie Brookes WOR
Nerys Hall WEY
Four juniors have been pre-selected for the Junior European and World Championships later this summer, with Richmond duo Tom Hatton and Annie Bates, alongside Olivier Mazur (Reading) and Dianora De Bilio (Royal) announced.