So the World Championships is over and anyone who is interested will no doubt have already seen the results splashed all over the web (if not see here)
I was at the event site in Thun, Switzerland to coach the British team, alongside Ross Montandon, and with the training week over our roles changed significantly. The competition was an exciting challenge for a coach; a healthy combination of top athletes, high pressure and an incredible arena, all for a variety of categories. Ross and I, we found ourselves hanging from the scaffolding under the grandstands where the competitors waited to have their rides; the stamping feet and shouting overhead only intensifying the situation.
Sam coaching under the grandstand
Every paddler was unique in what they needed and wanted from us as the coaching team. Everything from holding a water bottle and a few words of encouragement, advice on what moves we thought they’d scored to full-blown karaoke and danceoffs to distract them from the commentators and keep them relaxed.
The first day of the event was the senior men’s preliminary round, with paddlers from all over the globe showing a high level of competition. In British interest, Sam Anderson and Doug Cooper, at their first World Champs, did themselves proud putting in solid rides, but unfortunately not enough to make it to the quarter finals. Alan Ward, having only just recovered from a neck injury, placed 31st and just missed the cut by only a few points, gutted. Dicky Chrimes and Jon Best, with some huge pam-ams and snappy helixes comfortably made their way into the next round.
Alan Ward getting some air in Thun
Jon Best going for the air screw
I was at the event site in Thun, Switzerland to coach the British team, alongside Ross Montandon, and with the training week over our roles changed significantly. The competition was an exciting challenge for a coach; a healthy combination of top athletes, high pressure and an incredible arena, all for a variety of categories. Ross and I, we found ourselves hanging from the scaffolding under the grandstands where the competitors waited to have their rides; the stamping feet and shouting overhead only intensifying the situation.
Sam coaching under the grandstandEvery paddler was unique in what they needed and wanted from us as the coaching team. Everything from holding a water bottle and a few words of encouragement, advice on what moves we thought they’d scored to full-blown karaoke and danceoffs to distract them from the commentators and keep them relaxed.
The first day of the event was the senior men’s preliminary round, with paddlers from all over the globe showing a high level of competition. In British interest, Sam Anderson and Doug Cooper, at their first World Champs, did themselves proud putting in solid rides, but unfortunately not enough to make it to the quarter finals. Alan Ward, having only just recovered from a neck injury, placed 31st and just missed the cut by only a few points, gutted. Dicky Chrimes and Jon Best, with some huge pam-ams and snappy helixes comfortably made their way into the next round.
Alan Ward getting some air in Thun
Jon Best going for the air screwThe next day was a big one for the GB team, with the juniors, C1 and OC1s all competing for semi-final places. Ben West, Arron Layton and Stu Parry gave it their all with big moves mixed in their smart rides, against an incredible level of competition. The cut to ten was just too tight for our boys, of which Ben scored highest just missing the semi in 11th. The junior ladies followed and both GB girls, Poppy Layton and Islay Crosbie racked up the points to put themselves through to the next round.
Both James and Chris, our OC1s got thru to the semi finals with ease (the cut in the oc1 class was the best 12 of the 12 competitors!). To no one’s surprise Dave Bainbridge stormed his way to the C1 semi, Lee Pyke and Stu Parry, our other c1 representatives, paddled well but unfortunately didn’t make it along side him.
The third day of the event, Thursday, brought the senior women’s prelim round and everyone was excited to see the level of competition stepped up considerably from previous years. LiLi team member, Emily Wall, fresh from training on the Nile, put together some sweet rides to put her through to the quarters in 13th place, joining fellow Brit and training companion, Fiona ‘Flea’ Jarvie in 9th place. Lowri Davies, unluckily, had a green wave to contend with on her first ride, and after a couple of flushes was unable to put together the rides she was capable of and missed the cut.
Emily Wall mid backstab
After the ladies followed the entire squirt boat competition, with GBR well represented. Claire O’Hara was the one to beat throughout the ladies event; no one could get close to her and she ran away with the Gold. A great performance by Emma Runciman placed her just behind her team-mate in 2nd. GBR also claimed 7th with Sara James. In the men’s class, all three boys made it through with solid rides to the final, but it was time for James Reeves to take the title. His smooth style combining mysteries and a text-book flat water routine won him the gold. Pete Cornes and Chris Jones took 4th and 5th respectively, with Chris wowing the crowd with his ‘Snow Angel’ trophy move – a smooth back loop move from stern stall to upside down to bow stall done by sweeping with hand paddles!
Both James and Chris, our OC1s got thru to the semi finals with ease (the cut in the oc1 class was the best 12 of the 12 competitors!). To no one’s surprise Dave Bainbridge stormed his way to the C1 semi, Lee Pyke and Stu Parry, our other c1 representatives, paddled well but unfortunately didn’t make it along side him.
The third day of the event, Thursday, brought the senior women’s prelim round and everyone was excited to see the level of competition stepped up considerably from previous years. LiLi team member, Emily Wall, fresh from training on the Nile, put together some sweet rides to put her through to the quarters in 13th place, joining fellow Brit and training companion, Fiona ‘Flea’ Jarvie in 9th place. Lowri Davies, unluckily, had a green wave to contend with on her first ride, and after a couple of flushes was unable to put together the rides she was capable of and missed the cut.
Emily Wall mid backstabAfter the ladies followed the entire squirt boat competition, with GBR well represented. Claire O’Hara was the one to beat throughout the ladies event; no one could get close to her and she ran away with the Gold. A great performance by Emma Runciman placed her just behind her team-mate in 2nd. GBR also claimed 7th with Sara James. In the men’s class, all three boys made it through with solid rides to the final, but it was time for James Reeves to take the title. His smooth style combining mysteries and a text-book flat water routine won him the gold. Pete Cornes and Chris Jones took 4th and 5th respectively, with Chris wowing the crowd with his ‘Snow Angel’ trophy move – a smooth back loop move from stern stall to upside down to bow stall done by sweeping with hand paddles!
Claire O mysterying to find GoldThe quarter-final rounds were next and the standard was incredible. Jon laid down an incredible first ride with one of the best helixes of the competition, but neglected to take my advice afterwards of ‘now do the same again’ (!) and his second ride didn’t quite give him what he needed to go through. Dicky also bowed out with some huge moves but not enough for the semi final cut. Emily stepped it up to take 7th place with a big backstab and Flea, getting more confident on the wave by the day, made it in 9th.
Dicky Chrimes in his new Vertical Element kayak With tensions mounting, the cuts getting smaller and only 2 rides to get what you needed, semi finals made for a big day.
It was tough day for the GB team; Emily and Flea taking 6th and 8th in the senior women and Poppy in 9th in the juniors all missed out on finals. We also lost James and Chris in the OC1 category. But Dave and Islay (in the c1s and junior ladies respectively) were through and hungry for medals.
Finals day was an amazing spectacle, spectators lined both banks and the length of the bridge just above the wave and the grandstands were jam packed with 1500+ people! All eyes were on the wave and Islay opened the show for the Brits in a tough junior women’s final, eventually placing 4th and doing herself proud in her first ever World level competition. Our last GBR representative was Dave Bainbridge, with two European titles under his belt, he was eager for that of World Champion. After 20 nail-biting minutes that had all the British supporters going, he did it. With his huge clean pan am and backstabs and consistency throughout the event, Dave was a deserving winner.
Dave Bainbridge doing one of many flashbacks on his way to being ChampionFrom a personal point of view, I can’t pretend that it wasn’t painful to watch everyone else throw down on a nice wave, to feel the excitement and tension and to not have the chance to paddle against and with the best in the World. I have come away more motivated than ever and hungry to get fit and over the injuries that have plagued me for the past year, I’m ready to push myself, and my kayaking, as hard as I can.
Thanks goes to Jen Chrimes for all the paddling photos
The first trip of the summer at Bujagali Falls
