New personal bests for Megan at Euros

was the same is the vast majority of semi-finalists and finalists in the World Championships were from European nations so the European Championships pitted Megan against the best in the world again.

Megan made a great start qualifying straight through in the first heat to the semi-finals.

Then even better she won the semi-final to qualify the fastest of the 10 paddlers that went through to the finals.

In the final Megan maintained her fast pace but picked up a two-second penalty for touching one of the obstacle gates and she finished the competition in sixth place – a personal best.

Last weeekend Megan competed in only her second Senior World Cup race in Ivrea, Italy against the world’s best senior paddlers that included Olympic medalists.

After five days training on the river, a storm in the alpine mountains above the river the night before the competition made the challenge of negotiating the waves, drops and stopper waves on the course more challenging. In the first heat the fastest 20 paddlers of the 53 athletes would go through to the semifinals.

Megan was placed 27th so had to go into a second heat where only a further 10 paddlers of the remaining 33 would joint the others in the semi-final.

Megan produced an excellent run and finished the heat in eighth place therefore progressing through to her first senior semi-final.

In the semi-final a mistake from Megan resulted in her missing a gate and picking up a 50-second penalty which kept her low down in the standings finishing in 27th place. However, this was another personal best and gives confidence for future competitions at senior level.

Megan has now returned to compete in the final few races of the domestic season with her Welsh Junior, U23 and Senior titles to defend in Bala. Plus in October she moves to live and train full time at London Lee Valley White Water Centre with British Canoeing coaches.