Young kayakers paddle their way to success

Pupils do schools proud in slalom show

Youngsters from the Stirling area were successful at the Scottish Schools Slalom Kayak/Canoe Championships held on the River Devon at the weekend.

They were among 26 primary and 27 secondary schools battling it out at the home of CR Cats between Alva and Fishcross.

The club benefits from the coaching of Johnny Brown, Janet Peck and more recently Polish Olympic paddler Piotr Sczepsanski..

St Ninian’s Primary School won the Primary School trophy with a team of Cameron Brown, Arthur Jacques, Kyle Saunders, Callum McDonald and Gregor Jacques.

Kippen Primary School came second through winning duo Murray Robb and Ross Claydon.

The High School trophy went to the Denny High School team of Jack Kellett, Ross Forshaw, Johnathon Hendry and Matthew Cameron. Stirling High School achieved a creditable ninth place with only one paddler James Brown, McLaren High School were 13th and Dollar Academy 18th.

Other excellent results came from Thornhill Primary pupils Thomas and Angus Setterington; Adeline Humphrey (Dollar Academy Primary School); Hannah Toovey and Emma McDonald (Redwell Primary, Alloa) and Alistair and Aidan Thacker (Alva Primary).

The event took place on Saturday and Sunday and awards are presented each day for age groups, divisional medals and the Scottish Schools Championships.

Sunday’s medal presentations are annually supported by the Submariners Association.

Winners: J12: K1M - Murray Robb (CR Cats); K1W - Hannah Toovey (CR Cats). J14: K1M - Sam Leaver (Pheonix CC); K1W - Claire Wilson (CR Cats). J16: K1M - Sam Leaver (CR Cats); K1W - Lois Leaver (Pheonix CC). J18: K1M - John Dickson (CR Cats); K1W - Lois Leaver (CR Cats). U12: C1M - Murray Robb (CR Cats); C1W - Hannah Toovey (CR Cats). U15: C1M - Murray Robb (CR Cats); C1W - Laura Pottinger (Strathallan). U18: C1M - Michael Denvir (Forth CC); C1W - Ailsa Gourlay (Strathallan). U12: (C2) - Ross Claydon/Murray Robb; U15 (C2) - Ryan Mallon/Claire Wilson; U18 (C2) - Claire and Michael Denvir.

The final presentation of the day was the Top Club Award which went to CR Cats.

Johnny Brown, founder of the club in the mid 1980s, has witnessed huge growth and development of this Olympic sport.

Initially the boats and paddles were made of wood and were too heavy for primary children but, more recently, the club has produced many paddlers for Team GB’s Junior squad and Bradley Forbes Cryans for the GB Senior team in addition to several Olympians in Fiona Pennie (Rio), Campbell Walsh (silver medallist in Athens) and Craig Brown (Atlanta).