Welsh Canoe Slalom Championships get off to a flying start in Cardiff

The sun shone over Cardiff this Bank Holiday Monday as paddlers of all ages took to the water for the opening day of the Welsh Canoe Slalom Championships.

From Under 15s right through to seniors, athletes delivered committed, confident performances on the course, backed by an incredible team of coaches and a bank filled with cheering parents, teammates and supporters. It was a brilliant start to the championships and a real celebration of Welsh slalom talent.

Watching paddlers grow, improve and rise to the challenge at events like this is a privilege, and the day reflected exactly what makes our sport special; determination, teamwork and a shared love of being on the water.

Championship winners

Below are the category winners from day one of the championships.

K1 – Men

U15: Tom Kearsley
U16: Ilar Howell
U17: Ilar Howell
U18: Ilar Howell
U23: Oli Cooper
Senior: Eti Chappell

K1 – Women

U15: Mali Davies
U16: Mali Davies
U17: Eiri O’Connor
U18: Eiri O’Connor
U23: Sadie Sterry
Senior: Sadie Sterry

C1 – Men

U15: Riley Wilford
U16: Toby Sutcliffe
U17: Toby Sutcliffe
U18: Toby Sutcliffe
U23: Toby Sutcliffe
Senior: Toby Sutcliffe

C1 – Women

U15: Isabel Booth
U16: Isabel Booth
U17: Robyn Taunt
U18: Robyn Taunt
U23: Sadie Sterry
Senior: Sadie Sterry

A brilliant day for Welsh slalom

Alongside the racing, the event showcased the strength of the Welsh paddling community, with athletes supporting one another and coaches guiding paddlers through every run. The Welsh squad photo from the day captures not only some of the winners, but also the collective effort behind every performance on the water.

With such a strong opening day, the Welsh Canoe Slalom Championships are already shaping up to be a fantastic showcase of current talent and the exciting future of the sport in Wales.

Congratulations to all paddlers, paddlers’ families, coaches and volunteers involved.

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