This years Canoe Slalom National Interclub Championships were held in Cardington, Bedford.
The competition was held over two days, the 6th & 7th September and canoe clubs from all over the UK are invited to compete including the previous year’s winners.
Teams are made up of 13 competitors over 11 categories, including men and women and a variety of ages. Each team is lead by a non-paddling captain. All paddlers are local to Stafford and Stone Canoe Club and compete regularly in slalom events all over the country.
Stafford and Stone entered two teams (team A and team B), both teams containing current GB team members. Team A’s captain was Steve Harratt (SSCC Adult Beginners Coach) and Team B’s captain was Kay Royle.
Competition was fierce with teams from Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham the home of GB Canoeing’s Central Region Talent Squads, and two teams from Lee Valley National White Water Centre, hosts of the Olympic Canoe Slalom events in the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as many other top UK clubs.
This year Stafford and Stone Canoe Club’s A team were victorious, with the B team coming 4th out of 22 teams. Many team members also winning individual trophies.
The National Interclub Championships first took place in 1985 and has been held every year except in 2008 when the course was flooded. Stafford and Stone have won the competition 22 times, and this year being the 11th year in a row!
Team members from left to right
Back – Andrew Roden, Ant Barker, Austin Barker, James Bailey, Hannah Bailey, Tom Squance, Anthony Binks
Front – Michael Owen, Megan Bate, Chloe Burrows, Steve Harratt (Captain), Jessica Magson, Robert Harratt, Oz Roden
