ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee activities

Orton remembered in Wales gathering 

A total of 600 paddlers from around the world gathered in Llangollen, Wales to celebrate the life of Bren Orton who died earlier this year. Bren was a great kayaker, but more importantly a fabulous person who was and continues to be dearly loved by the community. Eulogies were given by his mother and his friends, before everyone set off to paddle on one of Bren’s formative rivers, the Dee. That evening, Llangollen celebrated Bren’s life in style, and promised that his spirit will always life on.

US paddlers battle for team selection 

The United States Canoe Freestyle team trials were held at the end of August at the Wausau Whitewater Park in Wisconsin. This was to select the team that will compete at next year’s ICF Canoe Freestylr World Championships in Plattling. All classes were contested with 45 athletes vying for team positions. Dane Jackson took the top spot in the men’s K1 and Abby Holcombe winning the women’s K1. 

European stars compete in Graz 

The ECA Canoe Freestyle European Championships were staged in Graz, Austria. Fourteen countries were represented with more than 140 athletes battling for top spots. Ottilie Robinson-Shaw of Great Britain broke her recent points record to become the first women’s C1 European champion, while Frenchman Tom Dolle won the men’s C1 title with a broken hand. Other titles went to Poland’s Tomaz Czaplicki in the men’s K1 and Germany’s Tim Rees secured the men’s K1 junior crown, while Ireland’s Leah Hough maintained her dominance in the junior women. Robinson-Shaw rounded off a brilliant year by taking the women’s K1 title.  

Terry Best, Chair of the ICF Canoe Freestyle Committee