Home win..

What a start to the season….I won my first premier race and on my home ground Grandtully, Scotland.

Unfortunately selection didn’t go quite as well. I didn’t make the top 3 boats of the GB U23 team, but I am first reserve, with a possible chance at racing the European championship. It was a tough three days of racing, I went into it knowing that it was all to play for. I was mentally and physically ready to lay it out all on the water.

I didn’t put down a result on the first day, as there were little bits of time here and there making my time just off the pace. I finished 8th, 5th U23. On the second day I managed to put down a top 3 finish coming 6th, 3rd U23.

On the final day on the final run, it was make or break for me. I was having a great run, but on the 18th gate I had to tackle with the pole and the judges decision was a 50 second penalty (you are given this when you miss a gate, or in my case they gave it as a half head. The rules say you have to pass through the gates with a full head and part of your boat). I never knew this when I finished my run until my coach consulted me. We put a protest in but it was rejected so I was sitting and waiting to know if I had met percentages to make reserve. This was a big disappointment for me, but I need to keep it in perspective. I am finding my way in this sport, and having not made the team knowing I put my heart and soul into racing was a shock. I just didn’t want to disappoint my coach. After debriefing with him he repeated over and over that he was not disappointed in me. He said that in the last 6 weeks leading into selection I had become a totally different paddler; exciting, pushing the limits and most of all pleasing to watch. I told him that next year I want people to watch my runs and not know what I’m going to do. I want to be a little demon paddler.

Selection shows how canoeing is so exciting and unpredictable. Most people go into a bunch of nerves, or stressing on the outcome. To me it is an opportunity to show my potential. It is a sport I enjoy training and fighting for. My best friend is also a fellow paddler who writes blogs of her journey in Scotland. I used to train alongside her on the Scottish Program and her last blog really sums up this part of our journey. She is great with words….studying English Literature!!! I would really appreciate if you read her latest blog: http://www.ambermaslen.com/blog.html

I will still continue on the GB Podium Potential Programme in Nottingham next year. It is not all about making it at this age, but to keep fighting for senior level. In sport, as in life, there will be immense highs and immense lows, but it’s about taking these as part of the journey. I have a dream (that is slowly turning into reality) to go to the Olympics and to race at senior level. I am committed to working hard, and when knocked off the path, I will bounce back having learned from fall. It’s a process.

Next year I will be even stronger, as I have not been in the gym for a year due to my nerve injury over the summer of 2013. I’ll have an even better winter this coming year as I will be able to continue to up the volume in my training, with only being Nottingham one year I have many aspects of my training and lifestyle to continue to improve on. It was very much a transition year working with a new coach and developing my skills. Now it’s about being consistent in these skills on a day to day basis by setting solid plans and committing to them.

The next step is to sit my university exams and travel abroad for some warm weather training. With missing out on the U23 Worlds and Euroes, I’ve managed to find some International World Ranking Races to compete in. I’ll head out to Prague, Czech Republic, for 5 days of training en route to Bratislava, Slovakia where I’ll compete in The Danubai Cup Race

The most important thing I can take from selection is how much I have a changed as a paddler and a person; I feel stronger and I am in control of the boat on the water, and how confident and how happy I am. I would not be able to race at such a high level and have opportunities to race abroad without the support of my sponsors, family, friends and GB support staff; I wouldn’t be in the position to do this sport that I have such a passion for.