Sharks take plaudits in wavehopper contest

SHARKS Canoe Club triumphed in a wavehopper racing competition on the Grand Union Canal.

Seventeen paddlers from the club, which trains in Harefield, took part in the race during half term.

The race was the culmination of a project between Catalyst Housing and the Sharks.

Sharks coach Neal Underwood said: “Wavehopper racing is the entry point for paddlers to take up wild water racing. Gradually we build up the paddlers by taking them on faster flowing and eventually white water.

“The fact that we are now hosting these events in Southall means we can start to build up a number of local paddlers for our wild water racing team, so that we can make the jump from being the best in London to the best in Britain.”

In the ladies’ event, Shark paddler Matilda Kruk was the first U8, with Maja Krukowska first U10 and Joyce Bazley coming second.

In the U14s, Shannon Beedon was first and Hannah Johnson was second. Helena Bazley was the first senior lady and Evelyn Mista was second master.

The Sharks also dominated in the men’s event as Johan Kukkohovi, an experienced paddler, was first U10, with first timer Marcel Krukowski in second.

Shark paddlers Wilfred Bazley, Bobby Beedon and Aliseena Beknaday took the top three slots in the U12s race.

In the U14s, Joel Gurney, Khaleel Zianddin, Thomas Skinner and Connor Sheehan finished as the top four, while Rod Grundy took the master prize.