The dust may have settled on the 2025 International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships in Sydney, Australia, but some of those stars took to the waters again last weekend.
The Lee Valley Whitewater Centre hosted back-to-back ICF World Ranking events on October 25 and 26, with the home stars delivering multiple titles.
The first event saw Great Britain win three of the four titles, starting with Sophie Ogilvie, who cruised to the women’s kayak crown in 93.32.
Her compatriot and one of the breakout stars of the season, Lois Leaver, who excelled on the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup circuit and at the World Championships in Australia, got silver.
Nina Pesce-Roue of France got the bronze, the only medallist to finish the race without any penalties.
Frenchman Mathurin Madore, another fantastic performer during the season, beat challenges from Britain’s Jonny Dickson and Jonah Hanharan in the men’s K1 final.
Madore finished the race 0.86 seconds faster than silver medallist Dickson in 83.63, with Hanharan crossing the line in 83.89 for bronze.
Ellis Miller and James Kettle ensured Great Britain finished with a canoe double at home.
Miller, with three gate touches, did enough to win the C1 gold in 111.76, ahead of Pesce-Roue and Kimberley Rappe of Germany, who won silver and bronze, respectively.
Kettle edged past Ivalid by 0.40 seconds, with France’s Titouan Estanguet, son of the great Tony Estanguet, claiming the bronze medal.
Most of these stars returned to once again gain valuable points with podium finishes again on Sunday.
Great Britain’s Leaver upgraded in the women’s K1, winning gold with a clean run in 101.10.
Annkatrin Plochmann of Germany was the second fastest in 104.89, followed by Nikita Setchell of Great Britain.
In the men’s K1 final, Madore reigned supreme again, with a classy performance, clocking 89.2 for gold.
Germany’s Tim Bremer scored second position, with bronze going to Ben Haylett of Great Britain.
Bethan Forrow, a C1 team bronze medallist at the World Championships in Sydney, added to the British dominance by winning the C1 title.
She defeated Ogilvie, clocking 109.53 with the final podium spot once again going Pesce-Roue’s way.
Another France paddler, Elouan Debliquy, was the star in the men’s C1, as he crossed the line in 100.11.
His timing was only 0.59 seconds faster than silver medallist Miquel Trave of Spain, with bronze going to Kettle.
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS FROM LEE VALLEY
Photo by A Edmonds/Paddle UK
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