Congratulations to PeakUK team paddlers Dave Bainbridge, Richard Chrimes and Claire O’Hara who made the GB Freestyle Kayak Team and will be representing Great Britain at the forthcoming World Championships in Switzerland in August 2009.

This year selections were held on Hurley Weir on the Thames. The competition was fierce with top paddlers from across the UK coming together to fight for the places on this year’s team.

Squirt Boating was up first and Peak UK team paddler, British and European Champion and World Silver Medallist Claire O’Hara showed consistency and style as she secured her place with some solid rides.

Next up was the freestyle competition on the infamous Hurley weir. The weather and water levels meant that the competition was extremely hard and the wave was punishing paddlers for even the slightest smallest mistakes. It was interesting to see the paddlers adapting their run plans and styles to suit the unique wave. Some paddlers choose to go for relatively safe lower scoring less dramatic moves to get consistent but solid rides whilst others opted for the bigger, high scoring but much riskier moves.

Peak UKs Richard Chrimes paddled extremely well in the men’s event. Using his years of competition experience he showed the locals guys how it should be done, laying down three solid runs that placed him in the top 5 of the men’s, securing him that all important place at the Worlds.

Junior British Champion and European Bronze Medallist young Joe Bradley put on a tremendous battle in the junior men’s just missing the cut in a tie break finish, he will be training with the GB Freestyle Team and travelling to the event as reserve for the Junior Men’s.

Jenny Chrimes and Claire O’Hara both went for the big moves in the ladies event securing places on the GB Freestyle Squad.

But it was British and European Champion and Peak UK team paddler Dave Bainbridge who stole the show at the event as he coolly took his time warming into the wave on his first two rides before exploding into action throwing down a huge third ride to retain his place on the team. Having won the World Cup at Thun last year he will be leading the way for the GB Freestyle Team at the World Freestyle Championships this summer.

Well done to everyone who made the GB Freestyle Team 2009.
Good luck at the World Championships.

ClaireO

To find out more about the team check out www.ukfreestyle.com and to find out about the World Freestyle Kayaking Championships 2009 check out www.icf-thun2009.ch

(Posted on the 4th May 2009 by timb)

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