Paddle UK has today announced Junior and U23 canoe sprint teams, which will represent Great Britain at the European and World Championships in Bascov-Pitesti, Romania and Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal this summer
After a weekend of competitive racing at the National Water Sports Centre, Nottingham, the IP statement outlines the following athletes selected for upcoming competitions.
U23 European Champion Kristina Armstrong (Scottish Performance Squad) has the opportunity to defend her title in the women’s K1 500m and K2 500m as she prepares to race both competitions.
She will combine with Amy Green (Worcester) in the K2 500m this time round, with Green also featuring as part of the women’s K4 racing the Europeans, alongside Elise Montagna (Royal), Grace Anderson (Norwich) and Jessie Urquhart (Nottingham)
Racing the K1 200m, Katie Pocklington (Nottingham) and Lucy Guest (Nottingham) in the K1 1000m, make up the women’s U23 team racing the Europeans, with Guest doing the same event at the World Championships.
After a successful regatta, Gabriel Popham-Covely (Nottingham) will race the men’s U23 K1 500m and 1000m at both the World and European Championships.
Richmond duo Nelson Kinzler and Dylan O’Connor will be taking on the K2 500m at both events, whilst O’Connor will be part of the K4, consisting of Xavier Hinves (Southampton), Benji Cabrera (Fowey) and Tom Holland (Wey).
Haydyn Cooke-Bayley (Nottingham) and George Bell (Fladbury) complete the team, racing the K1 200m and C1 200m at the Euros respectively.
In addition to the junior individual boats selections announced in April, junior crew boats have also been announced for the World and European Championships.
After a strong regatta at the weekend, Olivier Mazur (Reading) and Freddie Heard (Exeter) will race in the European Championships in the men’s K2 500m.
The pair will also join up with Tom Hatton (Richmond) and Sam Dickson (Falcon) to form the men’s K4 500m crew, which will race both internationals.
Will Short (Elmbridge) and Alex Worgan (Richmond) complete the men’s crew boats at the Europeans in the K2 1000m, whilst Elmbridge pair Sophie Dunlop and Matilda Burton will be in K2 500m at the Euros.
U23 and Junior World Championship team
U23 Women’s team
K1 200m – Kristina Armstrong (SPS)
K1 500m – Kristina Armstrong (SPS)
K1 1000m – Lucy Guest (NOT)
U23 Men’s team
K1 500m – Gabriel Popham-Covely (NOT)
K2 500m – Nelson Kinzler / Dylan O’Connor (RIC/RIC)
K4 500m – Xavier Hinves (SOU), Dylan O’Connor (RIC), Benji Cabrera (FOY), Tom Holland (WEY)
K1 1000m – Gabriel Popham-Covely (NOT)
Junior Women’s Team
K1 200m – Dianora De Bilio (ROY)
K1 500m – Dianora De Bilio (ROY)
K1 1000m – Annie Bates (RIC)
K1 5km mixed relay – Annie Bates (RIC)
Junior Men’s Team
K1 200m – Isaac Aveson (RIC)
K1 500m – Olivier Mazur (RDG)
K1 1000m – Tom Hatton (RIC)
K4 500m – Tom Hatton (RIC), Sam Dickson (FOX), Olivier Mazur (RDG), Freddie Heard (EXE)
K1 5km mixed relay – Tom Hatton (RIC)
U23 and Junior European Championship team
U23 Women’s team
K1 200m – Katie Pocklington (NOT)
K1 500m – Kristina Armstrong (SPS)
K2 500m – Kristina Armstrong (SPS)/Amy Green (WOR)
K4 500m – Elise Montagna (ROY), Grace Anderson (NOR), Amy Green (WOR), Jessie Urquhart (NOT)
K1 1000m – Lucy Guest (NOT)
U23 Men’s team
K1 200m – Haydyn Cooke-Bayley (NOT)
K1 500m – Gabriel Popham-Covely (NOT)
K2 500m – Nelson Kinzler / Dylan O’Connor (RIC/RIC)
K4 500m – Xavier Hinves (SOU), Dylan O’Connor (RIC), Benji Cabrera (FOY), Tom Holland (WEY)
K1 1000m – Gabriel Popham-Covely (NOT)
C1 200m – George Bell (Fladbury)
Junior Women’s Team
K1 200m – Dianora De Bilio (ROY)
K1 500m – Dianora De Bilio (ROY)
K1 1000m – Annie Bates (RIC)
K2 500m – Sophie Dunlop (ELM) & Matilda Burton (ELM)
Junior Men’s Team
K1 200m – Isaac Aveson (RIC)
K1 500m – Tom Hatton (RIC)
K1 1000m – Philippe Ehrnrooth (DEV)
K2 500m – Olivier Mazur (RDG) & Freddie Heard (EXE)
K4 500m – Tom Hatton (RIC), Sam Dickson (FOX), Olivier Mazur (RDG), Freddie Heard (EXE)
K2 1000m – Will Short (ELM) & Alexander Worgan (RIC)
In addition to the announced team, there’s an update to the Olympic Hope selection, with the athletes below selected to the team and clarification of remaining spaces to be contested at the 2025 July Regatta.
U17 Places
Tom Hatton (RIC)
Olivier Mazur (RDG)
Sam Dickson (FOX)
Isaac Aveson (RIC)
Annie Bates (RIC)
U16/15 Places
Freddie Heard (EXE)
Dianora De Bilio (ROY)
Matilda Burton (ELM)
There’s also an update on the 2025 Senior European Championships after the athlete pools were announced earlier this year.
Women’s team
K1 500m -Emma Russell (CLM)
K2 500m – Deborah Kerr (ANK), Emily Lewis (WOR)
K4 500m – Deborah Kerr (ANK), Emily Lewis (WOR), Emma Russell (CLM), Zoe Clark (ROY)
K1 1000m – Lucy Lee-Smith (NOR)
K1 5000m – Emma Russell (CLM)
C1 200m – Beth Gill (NOT)
C1 500m – Beth Gill (NOT)
C1 5000m – Beth Gill (NOT)
Men’s team
K1 1000m – Daniel Johnson (NOT)
C1 500m – Thomas Lambert (LIN)
C1 1000m – Thomas Lambert (LIN)