A busy week for Stafford & Stone’s Div 1 paddlers with a slalom school & squads training running the week before the racing. Thankfully the forecast rain was light and it was mostly blue skies and sun as well as the ever present midges !
C1M opened up proceedings on Saturday with Isaac Wright, putting down two storming runs and going clean on his second to secure 4th place. Harry McKenna, eager to show what he can do after a nasty capsize and bang to his shoulder meant having to stand down at Chapel Falls, finishing in 8th.
K1W saw Alana Middleton improve by over 10 seconds to move from 19th to 10th, Daisy Macklin with 2 solid runs and a clean run sticker on her second, finished in 14th and Olwen Yates with a flying second run moved up from 21st to 15th.
K1M had Harry back on the water laying down two quick and clean runs to secure 9th place, Theo Wright, in a welcome return after injury finished in 21st and Reuben Yates in his first Div 1 race finished in 25th.
C1W next with Alana, putting a nasty capsize and blow to her back on her first run behind her to finish in 5th and Daisy just behind in 6th.
To finish up the racing on Saturday a teams event was held with Harry & Reuben’s squad taking 6th and Daisy’s 8th.
Saturday’s prize giving saw Isaac claim a JTA J18 award, Theo a second JTA J14 award and Daisy a second JTA J14 in K1W & a JTA J14 award in C1W. Well done everyone !!
Sunday’s course, still limited by the water level was more technical and a host of 50s would see many a paddler’s run derailed.
C1M had both S&SCC paddlers improving on yesterday’s runs with Isaac taking 3rd place and Harry 5th.
K1W had Olwen putting down 2 blazing runs to secure 7th place, Alana taking 12th and Daisy, unable to improve on her second run finished 20th.
K1M and Theo secured 16th with two solid runs, Reuben took 27th and Harry laying down a storming time on his second run had to settle for 41st after picking up a 50.
Finally Alana taking 5th in C1W and Daisy finishing in 9th.
Sunday’s prizes included a 3rd place for Isaac, a JTA J16 award for Harry in C1M, a JTA J14 for Olwen and a JTA J14 for Theo.
Well done everyone, you did yourselves and the club proud, and the supporters there to cheer you on enjoyed every moment !!
Words: Gemma Macklin
Pictures: David Knox
