The Paddler Magazine Issue 65 Late Spring 2022 | Page 16

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Clay Wright Photos : Peter Holcombe
GB ’ s Ben Higson . Photo : Paul Harwood
SQUIRT BOATING Look to see USA ’ s downtime masters Clay Wright and Stephen Wright battle it out on and under the depths of the seam lines below the inlet gate . GB ’ s happiest paddler , Sam Wilson and GB ’ s Alex Edwards will also be in the mix . Can USA ’ s Rose Wall retain her title in the women ’ s squirt ? Expect to see both Ottie and Hitomi battle it out for a medal spot .
THE JUNIORS Tim Rees . Germany ’ s bright hope for a medal , second at the Euros to Toby Marlow , who has since moved to seniors . Tim will be the bookie ’ s favourite for a gold medal in Nottingham , but it may be a more challenging fight than many anticipate . Japan ’ s Nanase Okazaki and GB ’ s Ben Higson have the moves to make up the gap .
If Ottie has the senior women ’ s category all but sewn up , team USA ’ s Abby Holcombe also has the juniors buttoned up . Having travelled to England three months before the event , she will be the favourite to win , but with a raft of British , Irish and German juniors closing the gap , can anybody stop her ?
GB ’ s Adam Ramadan . Photo : Lisette Nixon
GB ’ s Sam Wilson . Photo : Nichole Jones
C1 Keep your eyes on the women ’ s C1 , for its debut on the world ’ s stage will bring many new faces to competition for the first time . Ottie Robinson Shaw will want to make it three gold medals !
In the men ’ s , Dane Jackson will want to reclaim his title from Tom Dolle , the Padawan to France ’ s longtime C1 expert Sebastian Devred after Tom bested him in Sort . But GB has hope in Matt Stephenson , Adam Ramadan and James Ibbotson . If the Euros are anything to go by , they will be well in the mix .
OC1 With no spraydecks , boats filling with water in a feisty hole … The biggest trick will win here ; expect to see some big air , lots of spins and maybe a few swims ...