On 2nd February 2020 Southampton Canoe Club held its first Wild Water Race at Woodmill Activity Centre, Southampton.
With the River Swollen from the previous night’s rain the course proved a challenging but exciting sprint down the River Itchen finishing with a splash down the drop at Woodmill Weir. Racing through obstacles such as Broken Weir and the salmon Chicane proved to be a testing course with several athletes and paddlers opting for an early bath!
Over 20 Athlete’s competed on the course with the fastest time being posted by local paddler Xavier Hinves from Southampton Canoe Club. However, there were also fantastic class wins for, Andre Hinves in U14 Boys, Molly Gwym from Wiltshire Youth CC in U16 WWR and Poppy Gilbert- Johns from Southampton in U14 Wavehopper. Jacob Parker from Southampton and Lenny Cann from Hamble Sea Scouts, battled it out for bragging rights in the U16 Boys with Jacob finally winning through. Meanwhile in the Senior Classes Martine Huisman (Southampton CC) took honours in the ladies Wavehopper, with Lyn Jack (Upper Hamble CC) winning the Ladies Recreational Class and for the Men Richard Kent (Southampton CC) led closely followed by John Dyke (Hamble Sea Scouts) and Neal Underwood (Sharks CC).
Southampton Canoe Club is a British Canoeing Talent Club Partner and runs a series of beginner and developmental courses throughout the year for more information please visit www.southamptoncc.org.uk
Thanks should be given to all the volunteers that made the event possible and we look forwards to holding a nationally ranking event in the future.
