Crowds lined the River Severn as the national canoeing championships made its return to the city.
Worcester Canoe Club hosted the 2022 British National Open Marathon Racing Individual and Team Championships over the weekend, with more than 800 athletes taking to the water.
Fans, friends, family and the many passers-by who couldn’t help but be drawn in, watched on as canoeists aged from 10 to 87 competed in a variety of individual and team races.
For many competing, the event offered a final chance to make their case for selection for next month’s World Championships in Portugal.
Among them was Chelmsford’s Beth Gill, who picked up two silver medals at the Marathon European Championships in Denmark in July.
“It’s my first time in Worcester and I am really enjoying it,” she said.
“We’ve spent a lot of the last few months travelling all over, we’ve just come back from Munich, so it is lovely to finish here in Worcester.
“The European Championships was definitely the highlight of my career so far.”
On Saturday, August 27, Beth came first in the Senior Ladies C1.
Sunday presented a new challenge for the Team GB athlete, as she partnered with her boyfriend Dan Johnson in the Mixed K2.
Speaking before the race, she said: “We haven’t really raced together before so it will be interesting!
“It will just be a really nice way to finish what was been a fantastic weekend.”
In the past, Worcester had held the event every year but this weekend marked the first time the city had hosted since the Coronavirus pandemic.
Organiser Andy Nevitt, of Worcester Canoe Club, was delighted to see the event return but admitted that the lockdowns had impacted the sport.
He said: “It has been a fabulous weekend.
“It’s been about seven years since Worcester last hosted the nationals so it’s great to have it back.
“Sadly, nationally, canoeing has probably lost a few people as many weren’t able to go out paddling so might have taken up another sport.
“I think we are now coming to the end of the effects of Covid.
“It didn’t really impact our club too much, but I know of one or two elsewhere in the country that are really struggling.”
Also helping to stage the event, was the team British Canoeing Marathon Racing Committee, including member Holly Mobbs.
“It is a very spectator friendly sport, as you can see there are lots of people just stopping to watch when they see what is going on.
“There are over 40 clubs taking part, all the way Glasgow to Cardiff, and we even have a few guys from Australia here.
“We couldn’t do it without the volunteers and support from the clubs.
“A lot of the clubs who host don’t do it for profit, but because they love the sport.”
Check the Worcester News website on Monday (August 29) for more photos and the full results.
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