Welcome
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Welcome to the late summer edition of Canoe Focus !
We hope you ’ ve enjoyed time on the water over the summer months , even if the weather has been a little wetter and cooler than we might like . The late summer burst of sunshine this month certainly encouraged more people to get on the water and paddle , and British Canoeing was pleased to welcome a number of new members . Whatever the weather , paddling remains a wonderful way to connect with the great outdoors , friends and family !
It has been fantastic to see so much hard work across the paddling community come to fruition over the summer , most recently , the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at the Lee Valley White Water Centre . The Great Britain slalom team achieved record breaking results , winning eight medals , including : five gold , two silver and a bronze . In doing so , the team also secured the critically important Paris 2024 Olympic quota places . You will find our reflections on an inspiring week of racing on page 6 .
We were incredibly proud to host the championships . So much time and expertise is invested into hosting major events , by so many different people . In particular , British Canoeing is so fortunate to have an army of volunteers who dedicate their time to ensuring events are a success . The successes of last week , both on and off the water , are attributable to everyone who played a role and gave up their time . Thank you .
In addition to a focus upon racing , British Canoeing used the World Championships to drive positive social and environmental change , locally , nationally and internationally , across the paddling community and wider . GB athletes are frequent contributors to our campaigns , including canoe sprint athlete , Beth Gill , who supports alongside her training . Beth attended our sustainability conference , held during the Slalom
World Championships , to speak about the importance of protecting the places we paddle , and how we can build a more sustainable future for our waterways . Beth has also featured in one of our ‘ Why Blue Spaces Matter ’ short films , created to help support the re-launch of our Clear Access , Clear Waters Charter . Find out more on page 18 .
Last month , we also celebrated huge success at the Paracanoe 2023 World Championships in Duisburg , Germany . The GB paracanoe team remains worldleading , and athletes won seven medals , including : four gold and three silver . Similarly to the slalom team , paracanoe athletes secured seven quota spots for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games too . It has been a brilliant summer across all the GB teams and disciplines , and we are incredibly proud of every GB athlete , coach and support team as they continue to compete so successfully on the international stage .
Looking ahead , as the crisp mornings of October arrive , we hope that you continue to do what you love on the water . The autumn months bring the opportunity for beautiful experiences , as a kaleidoscope of colours emerge across the British waterways .
It has been a phenomenally busy and successful period for British Canoeing and we couldn ’ t do it without you ! Your continued support is very much appreciated and reflected in our success .
Enjoy the collection of round-ups , stories and more in this edition of Canoe Focus .
Keir Worth
Director of Paddlesport
Canoe Focus Late Summer 2023